What’s the difference between drug abuse and drug dependence, and are they connected? It’s a common question, and it may not always be easy to tell when someone you care about crosses the line from abuse of a substance into a full-blown addiction.
The difference is in the number of diagnostic criteria as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as published by the American Psychiatric Association and used by physicians and the court system alike.
When it comes down to it, however, no matter what the specifics, consequences of chronic drug use and addiction can be damaging to every aspect of a person’s life, and if moderation of that use is impossible alone, then treatment can help.
Drug Abuse
Chronic drug abuse problems are often perceived to be less devastating than drug addiction but the fact is that ongoing use of illicit substances can be just as damaging to the user’s life. For that reason, treatment services are available to those who struggle with either issue.
Drug abuse is signified by experiencing one or more the following issues in the past year:
- Legal problems caused by drug abuse or behaviors under the influence
- Physical harm to others caused by the individual’s use of drugs and/or his behaviors under the influence (or lack of action caused by use of drugs)
- Inability to do what is necessary at home, at school, at work or to manage responsibilities in general
- Ongoing use of drugs despite continued problems in these and other areas caused by drug abuse
Drug Addiction
If you experience three or more of the following issues within a 12-month period, you meet the criteria for a diagnosis of addiction:
- Onset of withdrawal symptoms (physical and psychological) when without the drug of choice
- Using larger and larger amounts of the drug of choice in order to achieve the same results experienced initially
- Less interest in old hobbies and interests or career/school pursuits
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Patterns of behavior that revolve solely around getting or staying high
- Multiple attempts to cut down or stop drug use without success
- Continued use of drugs and alcohol despite continued and growing problems related to their use
Thank You so much for giving so knowledge about abuse and addiction. This blog really helps me to guide my loved one to recovery.
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Addiction is one of the dangerous disease where every people faces. No worries there are many therapies so know the benefits of drug treatment programs.
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