What is the difference between physically dependent and addicted?

Answer 1

Physical addiction or dependency happens in the body when you become addicted to hard or prescription drugs and the symptoms are aching bones and muscles usually when your body needs more of the drug you have made it dependany on and for your body to function normally and usually the ammount of the drug that it requires to function properly increases with time and an addiction happens in the mind almost like a habit whereas no physical symptoms are obvious yet you cannot function properly without it because it is all you can think about when you are not having your fix of whatever you have become addicted to such as gambling smoking working out etc you can become addicted to anything that you get a great deal of pleasure from so the difference between the two is that a physical addiction hooks your body and an addiction hooks your mind basically.

Answer 2

The term addiction is usually equated with abuse, however addiction and abuse are not the same thing.

Addiction is comprised of tolerance to the medication being taken and/or psychological dependence to the drug in question. With tolerance a person must take more and more of that particular drug to get the same desired effects over time.

Psychological dependence means that a person will take the drug in question

no matter what the consequences. One or both of these must present to consider a possible addiction.

The term dependency is different meaning that the body has grown used or adapted to the amount of the drug in question that is being taken. This can happen for a number of reasons to numerous to count. For instance people who are taking insulin for Diabetes are dependent on the insulin. Their body needs it to maintain a state of well being.

Either addiction or dependency can cause withdrawal if the drug in question is stopped abruptly however it is important to note that people who have a chronic illness sometimes need to consider long term treatment of their particular disorder and this is called medical dependence. This is the case with the diabetic and insulin.

It is possible to become addicted to anything given the correct set of circumstances, so people with a history of drug or other addictions should be

carefully monitored when using a drug that may cause dependency. I hope this information has helped to further educate you in your quest for knowledge. ; )