What Is the Difference Between Drug Dependency and Drug Addiction?

Question by Rick: What is the difference between drug dependency and drug addiction?
Prescription drug policy in many places seems to stigmatize anyone who is taking a narcotic pain reliever. As so often happens, the minority of abusers make it difficult for the majority of legitimate chronic pain sufferers.

Best answer:

Answer by jen
According to the DSM-IV-TR : there really isn’t a difference, actually the term drug dependency is starting to take the place of drug addiction.
Yet, another way to look at it is: drug dependency usually occurs when a person is taking a needed medication to treat a disorder such as Xanax for depression. It is an addictive drug, so when the person tries to stop taking it they go through withdrawals. Some anti-psychotic meds, used to treat personality disorders such as antisocial personality, or schizophrenia – are addicted, and the person becomes dependent on them. They need to take the medication in order to function correctly.

According to the APA: Drug addiction is a “pattern of compulsive substance use” meaning that the person is taking them because they want to get high. There is no reason: behavioral, physiological or cognitive for them to be using them. People who are addicted usually have social, legal, or job related problems that manifest because of this use.

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