Tolerance and dependence can be warning signs of addiction, but they do not necessarily mean that someone is addicted to a substance. In the case of prescription medications, tolerance and dependence can occur even when the substance is used precisely as prescribed. For example:. It is also possible for someone to suffer from addiction without developing tolerance or dependence. For example, if you begin using marijuana to cope with feelings of stress and anxiety, you can be mentally dependent upon the drug as a coping mechanism without experiencing physical signs of tolerance or dependence.
However, a mental addiction is still as problematic as one that is accompanied by physical dependence and tolerance. Addiction is statistically more common in men and people with a family history of substance use disorders. However, people of all backgrounds can develop addiction. Addiction is treated with counseling to address the underlying issues contributing to substance abuse while helping to promote the development of healthy coping mechanisms to deal with emotionally challenging situations.
Although addiction is considered a chronic illness, treatment is effective at all ages and stages of life. Before healing can begin, it is imperative that we learn as much as we can about the maladies that ail us, and addiction is a condition that can be confounding. What is commonly referred to as addiction can actually be split into three different conditions: tolerance, dependence, and addiction. To help the ones we love to make the necessary changes in their lives, we first need to understand dependence vs.
When using an addictive substance over time, the pleasure received will not remain the same. Eventually, a small dose will fail to have the same effect as it once did and that is why addicts tend to need more and more as they continue using. They desire the same feelings of pleasure they received when they first started using the drug, and to do that, they increase the dose. What is meant by tolerance to a drug? Here are three different medical definitions of tolerance:. A person can develop tolerance to their prescription medication, especially when it comes to opioids.
Just because tolerance is developed does not mean that a person is addicted to a substance. It just means that the current level of the drug is no longer producing the same effects for that person.
Keep in mind that tolerance does not develop equally for every effect of a drug. For example, a person taking an opioid medication, such as Oxycontin or an illicit opioid such as heroin, could gain tolerance to the euphoria gained from usage, but not to the side effect of respiratory depression, or slowed breathing rate.
Drug tolerance and dependence are different than addiction. That may seem very difficult to understand as most people use these terms so interchangeably. However, drug tolerance and dependence can lead to addiction. While these two elements are physiological changes — meaning they impact the body — addiction is about behavior. When addiction occurs, a person is unable to stop using even if he or she tried to do so. Tolerance vs. When does this crossover occur?
The most important factor to consider here is the persistence of use. This means that when a person is dependent on a drug, the person keeps taking the drug as a way to push off withdrawal systems.
However, he or she understands what is happening. When a person crosses over to addiction, there is a significant break. That is, the addict will continue to use the drug even when there are consequences such as physical changes, overdoses, social negative experiences, and mental health complications. Understanding this difference is critical to understanding just how important it is to seek out treatment.
While all of this seems like an easy to manage the transition from tolerance to dependence, and addiction, that is not the way it always happens. More so, there are not always clearly defined areas here. In all cases, individuals in tolerance, dependence, and addiction phases can seek help.
They can overcome the condition and they can enter recovery. It becomes more important to do so as the condition worsens. When a person is in active addiction, that individual can have a strong tolerance and a physical dependence. And, when someone with a strong tolerance may innately have it. However, this does not mean they have what is considered the standard definition of addiction.
Alcohol and drug addiction is probably more complex than tolerance and dependence. Addiction is difficult to study because of the variability of behavioral phenomena and the underlying intricacies of the neurosubstrates.
Tolerance and dependence are still useful as they are indicators of drug use. It is a misconception that long term chronic use is necessary for tolerance and dependence to develop.
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