Whats the difference? - Addiction & Recovery Message Board

pigtailpagirl2 · 09-07-2003, 11:37 AM

Between addiction and dependence? Any?

WannaBnormal · 09-07-2003, 11:59 AM

This is my understanding of the difference between addiction and dependence:

Addiction is more in the MIND, HEART, and SOUL of the person. They feel way deep down that they need the effects of their DOC to continue living (or at least I did).

Dependence is simply the physical reaction to a person taking narcotics/opiates long enough (for pain purposes, not to get high) for their body to become dependent on it.

Ever see the movie "The People Vs. Larry Flynt" starring Woody Harrelson (sorry ~ not spelled right!)? There is a perfect example of addiction vs. dependence in that movie.

In the movie LF is shot and in the aftermath needs large doses of narcotics for the pain and becomes dependent on them. His wife, who was his main care-giver, decides one day to dip into his stash and she becomes addicted.

After a few years of this LF is told of a surgery that will cure his pain, so he has it done. The wife visits him in the hospital and pulls out a handfull of pills. She tries really hard to get him to take them, but he tells her "No ~ I'm done with it. I was taking them for pain and I'm not in pain anymore. You need to be done with them as well." (paraphrased) She was not taking them for pain, but to get high, so she found she could not give them up.

An addict is one thing, a person physically dependent is different. At least to me, anyway

I'm liking it here so much you all are gonna get tired of hearing from me soon

LA

HERMIT · 09-07-2003, 11:59 AM

Well; you may not like what I have to say, but here goes.
Addiction is when you begin to take a drug to either get high or escape from reality. When you come down, the problem you tried to escape from has just become a little worse--plus---you have another problem--the drug you are taking has a hold on you. Many addicts will lie, cheat and steal from any and all around them--not caring in the least about how he or she is being hurt by the addicts carelessness. Any real friends the addict had will be long gone and the people he or she now hangs with are part of the drug community. They all leech off each other and often couple up to steal or further their opportunities to get their desired escape. Doctors soon get wise to the addict and then won't actually want to help the poor bugger that actually may need the drug to maintain a quality of life.
Dependence--is a person who begins a drug to treat a specific illness---who has to jump thru the hoops in order to prove they need this drug because the addicts have screwed it up for the dependents. The dependent will probably be also addicted to the drug--BUT--quitting will probably be easier if the opportunity to quit becomes available. Most dependents never get the high associated with the addict's use---the action goes toward the pain instead. A dependent will usually still have their family and is productive towards their family--not an embarrassment.
Addicts who realise they have a problem and actually take steps to end their addiction have a hard road ahead of them. They usually have lost everything that once meant something to them. I have a lot of respect for any who do try to quit--and I think they will be a much stronger and wiser person for having done so.

pigtailpagirl2 · 09-07-2003, 12:35 PM

Thanks for the replies. My little brother(21), Im 32, we think he has been suffering from depression for a long time. I think he experimented with street drugs (extacy etc) and it got him into lots of trouble (ER etc). Then somewhere along the line he has been put on clonopin, my shy little brother turned into this mouthy, confident person who never stops talking. He was going through a prescription of 90 pills in a very short time. My mom became aware of this and is trying to get him help with alternative medicine doctors and accupunture. Well that lasted a whole 3 days, now he is taking librium. She even called the doctor to tell him about the abuse and could not get a call back because he is over 18, the doc continued to prescribe. He says he is going to get more pills from another doctor, I guess he doesn't want help, but when he runs out of medicine I think it is dangerous (seziures), and we think he could get suicidal. What path is this going to take? I take vicodin for migraines and I remember after he was up here, alot of pills being gone. I dont know if he is dependant or addicted. I guess I don't understand because I take a pretty strong drug myself quite often and never take it unless I need it, I don't experience the things he goes through. I know he'll have to want to try, but in the meantime we are so concerned. He can be very hardheaded. I know there is no easy answer, but he is to the point where he is back home with my mom and won't do ANYTHING at all. (clean his room, easy everyday stuff). Is it the addiction, does it make people not care about their appearance and stuff? Help me out here, he is so young to be going through this and he doesn't see a problem, its killing my mom!! Shes always a wreck. Do we just let him figure all this out on his own?

WannaBnormal · 09-07-2003, 12:36 PM

Hermit ~

I know you are hurting and are (rightfully so!) fiercely angry with your brother and his actions right now, but I do have to disagree with something in your reply.

I dont think all addicts dont care about the harm we are causing ourselves and others. I dont think we dont care about all the lies, cheating, stealing, etc. that we do. I was completely, totally, and painfully aware AT ALL times of the consequences of my actions, and yet I choose to do the wrong thing over and over again. Why do you think that is? Drugs had a powerful and all-encomposing hold on me and I could not break free.

I'm a grown woman with a college education. I spent many years working in the medical field, gave it up to stay home and raise my kids. Addiction knows no bounds. It has no limits on who it will hit. Both sexes, all races, religious denominations, all socio-economic classes. If you are human, you are fair game for the evil known as addiction. And once it has you, you are in for a long nasty ride. But it does not mean that you lose the ability to know what you are doing to yourself and the people you love. An addicts actions/behaviors will make a non-addict think so, but it isnt always true. Most addicts I know IRL were all aware at some point what would/could happen if they continued to use, but they just could not stop and its such a sad and lonely place to be.

I have lived a nice, upper-middle class life. Way luckier than alot of people I know with addiction problems. I have not lost any family or friends (thank HP for that!) from my behavior, but I know I could have very easily because I put them all thru hell and I think about it everyday

What I'm trying to say with that is it can get anyone and it doesnt mean we are weak in the mind or lack willpower. We are weak spiritually (whatever form spirituality may be for you ~ live and let live on the religion thing, ok?) and more than likely just trying to fill voids that were left open and raw years before.

I'm not trying to get you to feel sorry for us or convince you of anything. I just want to point out that we do know what we are doing ~ most of us anyway, at some point or other ~ and it kills us a little at a time right along with the drugs.

Ok, I'm starting to ramble and I'm not sure this post will make any sense at all. I think you have every right to your feelings of anger and hurt at your brother. And its good to hear what its like from the other side ~ it helps keep me real about what I did and how grateful I should be to still have all that I do. Thank you for that.

My prayers are with you and your family. And for the addict, your brother, who is still out there suffering.

Respectfully ~
LA