However, they may not engage in compulsive, drug-seeking behaviors or use cheaper, illicit drugs to feel good. They can get past the withdrawal symptoms without feeling like they must find a way to use opioids again. Many risk factors contribute to a person becoming addicted to alcohol or other substances, including genetics, biology, environment, and life experiences. Today, the APA classifies substance use disorders as mild, moderate, or severe.

• Misdiagnosis of addictive disorders can lead to a cascade of negative outcomes, including stigma, discontinuation of needed medications, undue scrutiny of both patients and physicians, and even criminal consequences.
• Studies have shown that addiction can form in individuals through acombination of genetic makeup and poor social skills.
• Some jurisdictions are moving towards treating addiction as a health issue rather than a criminal one, but progress is slow and uneven.
• Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or ADHD can increase the risk of substance abuse.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers

So, what exactly is addiction, and why does it happen to some people but not others? What these strategies are depends on the substance or behavior a person wants to stop. Unlike addiction, dependence does not necessarily involve difficulty controlling behavior.

What’s the difference between physical and psychological addiction?

Addiction typically involves changes in brain chemistry that affect judgment, motivation and memory. Addiction and dependence are distinct but interconnected concepts that emerge at different stages of substance use. It’s a complex interplay of physical and psychological dependence combined with a compulsive drive to seek out the substance or behavior, even when it causes harm to yourself and those around you. To reiterate, the DSM-5 dropped the categories of “substance dependence” and “substance abuse,” and so the claim that substance abuse disorder is the preferred term for drug addiction is inaccurate.

• It includes the psychological drive to continue using substances despite their harmful effects.
• Tolerance develops due to various physiological mechanisms, including changes in receptor sensitivity and neurotransmitter levels in the brain.
• For this reason, it’s important that individuals with dependence on a substance seek help before they develop an addiction.
• On the other hand, dependence occurs when the body adapts to the presence of the substance and experiences withdrawal symptoms when the substance is reduced or stopped.

What are the first signs that someone is developing a substance dependence?

At Deluxe Addiction Treatment Center, we believe financial barriers should never prevent you from receiving the care you deserve. Many major insurance providers can cover a significant portion—or even all—of your treatment costs. We proudly accept most PPO and POS insurance plans with out-of-network benefits. If you’re unsure where you fall on addiction vs dependence, we’ll help you get clarity and a plan. If you notice these or other changes in someone you care about, it may be time to have a conversation about addiction. Copyright © 2025, AddictionHelp.com The information provided by AddictionHelp.com is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

As it worsens and becomes more frequent, the odds of developing a substance use disorder increase dramatically. Could someone who is dependent on alcohol or drugs be diagnosed as having an addiction? The terms “addiction” and “dependence” are often used interchangeably, but there are differences between the two. Although someone with a drug addiction can end their physical dependence on the drug through detox, the mental component of the addiction remains, and maintaining sobriety can be an ongoing struggle. Let’s examine Alcohol Use Disorder how the world views addiction versus dependence in relation to substance abuse disorders. Remember, seeking help and support is not a sign of weakness, but rather an act of self-care and empowerment.

• We know that the difference between addiction and dependence is often challenging to understand.
• Support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), can also play a crucial role in addiction treatment.
• Someone who is physically dependent may not be psychologically addicted—they may not crave the substance or engage in compulsive behaviors—but their body still reacts to its absence.
• A person with an addiction has difficulty not using substances or doing rewarding activities, even if it is harming them.
• Understanding this overlap helps explain why withdrawal management alone isn’t sufficient treatment for addiction.

According to the National Center on Drug Abuse (NIDA), therapy and substance use counseling can be one of these helpful components. If a mental health condition like depression contributed to an individual starting to misuse a substance, a trained therapist can help them identify the condition and propose strategies for managing symptoms. Addiction refers to a chronic disease characterized by addictive behavior that is caused by fundamental changes in brain circuitry as a result of physical dependence over time. Addiction can cause distorted thoughts, uncontrollable behavior, and impulsive choices stemming from a person’s chemical drive to keep a addiction vs dependence substance in their system. Addiction and substance use disorder are the preferred terms for this process, as substance abuse is no longer used in the scientific community.