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Defines drug abuse and drug addiction and the characteristics of each.
One can abuse a drug without being addicted to it. Drug addiction involves a psychological and physical dependence on the drug.
Drug abuse and addiction both involve the misuse of one or more drugs. These can be prescription medicines and/or illicit drugs.
Drug abuse involves the use of a drug for a purpose other than that for which it is normally prescribed or recommended. The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines it as “The use of illegal drugs or the inappropriate use of legal drugs. Another definition of drug abuse is the repeated use of drugs to produce pleasure, to alleviate stress, or to alter or avoid reality (or all three).”
With drug abuse, a person keeps using a drug even though doing so results in problems that affect the person’s mind, physical health and/or behaviors.
Problems include:
- Cravings for the drug
- Need for increased amounts of the drug to get the desired effect
What is drug addiction?
Drug addiction takes it a step further. Drug addiction involves compulsively seeking to use a substance, regardless of the potentially negative social, psychological and physical consequences. In other words, you may have a psychological and emotional, plus a strong physical dependence on the drug. When an addict stops taking a drug, it can produce an unpleasant physical reaction.
Certain drugs, such as narcotics and cocaine, are more likely to cause physical dependence than are other drugs.
Keep in mind, a person can abuse a drug without becoming addicted to it. Addicts, however, usually have distress and the daily problems that result from drug abuse.
- Failure to fulfill work, school or home obligations
- Legal problems, such as getting arrested for disorderly conduct
- Financial problems due to the cost of drugs
- Physical harm that results from things, such as a car accident
- Relationship problems, such as arguments or physical fights
Sources:
- The National Institute on Drug Abuse
- American Institute for Preventive Medicine
- DSM IV, American Psychiatric Association
next: General Signs and Symptoms of Drug or Alcohol Abuse
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