1. What Is the Difference Between Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction?
1. What is the difference between drug abuse and drug addiction? – Drug abuse and drug addiction are different conditions. Medically, problems with drug abuse and drug addiction (dependence) are each diagnosed with specific criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). To be diagnosed with a drug abuse problem, a person would exhibit any one of four specific signs during a one-year period. To be diagnosed with a drug addiction or dependence problem, a person would exhibit any three out of seven specific signs during a one-year period. Some experts use other definitions for drug abuse and addiction exist. For example, abuse can be defined as any use of an illegal substance or the inappropriate use of a legal substance to produce pleasure, reduce stress, or escape reality (or all three). Even if the drug use doesn’t cause problems that need medical treatment (at least early on), this definition would include use of drugs for experimentation—which can still be harmful—and use of substances such as nicotine or alcohol by minors. Perhaps the primary distinction between abuse and addiction relates to the compulsion of an addict to get their next fix. The addict’s focus is almost exclusively on getting more of the drug. Addiction causes a person to lose control over his or her drug use—it is no longer a choice.
Who Is Your Favorite Addict?
Filed under: drug addiction definition
All drugs are habit-forming, but only a subset of psychoactive drugs can produce psychological and physical dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms when taken away, the usual definition of addiction. Most people who become addicted to one drug …
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Internet Addiction: The Next New Fad Diagnosis
Filed under: drug addiction definition
The definition of Internet addiction is closely related to the definition of drug addiction, so this is the best place to start if we are to gain understanding and avoid confusion. Three features define drug addiction: Tolerance: needing more to get …
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Internet Addiction—The Next New Fad Diagnosis
Filed under: drug addiction definition
The definition of Internet addiction is closely related to the definition of drug addiction—so this is the best place to start if we are to gain understanding and avoid confusion. Three features define drug addiction: 1. Tolerance—needing more to get …
Read more on Psychiatric Times (blog)
Drug robberies taking their toll
Filed under: drug addiction definition
Edward Cartwright, a former Pennsylvania police officer with extensive experience fighting prescription drug abuse, will speak specifically on pharmacy safety and security in an effort to help Maine pharmacies deal with the rising epidemic. “We have …
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