Quote:
Originally Posted by Myelogirl
If you take a drug that is likely to produce very nasty withdrawals if you cease taking it, isn't that an addiction?
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No, that's dependence. It
can get confusing because a person can be both addicted to, and dependent on, a medication.
It may help to think of it this way: Dependence is physical—the body becomes chemically acclimated/accustomed to a medication such that abrupt reduction/cessation causes physical withdrawal; Addiction is psychological—evidenced by cravings, continued ab/use despite harm to onesself/others (usually family members).
Definitions Related to the Use of Opioids for the Treatment of Pain: Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Pain Society, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine
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