Drug addiction vs dependence: what's the difference? which one is worse?

Reporting from Kumparan, KPAI reported that out of a total population of 87 million children in Indonesia, 59 million of them are addicted to drugs. You may be familiar with the term drug addiction, but did you know that it doesn't mean the same as addiction? A person who is addicted to drugs is not necessarily an addict, but someone who is already addicted to drugs is more likely to be addicted to drugs. Still confused? The following is the full explanation.

What is drug dependence?

Drug dependence can be interpreted as the process of consuming a drug that is repeated outside the rules of use or not according to a doctor's prescription, even though the purpose is solely to treat symptoms, relieve pain, or support bodily functions. Drug dependence can still appear even if you use the drug according to the rules of use that have been prescribed by your doctor.

Addiction occurs when your body has adjusted to the presence of the drug, so that you gradually become immune to the effects of the drug. It is this drug-resistant reaction that makes some people tend to like to arbitrarily increase their own doses in order to get the desired medicinal effect.

On the other hand, when you decide to stop taking the drug, the body will "rebel" by showing a withdrawal reaction or withdrawal symptoms because it feels its need for a certain chemical is not being met. Symptoms that can occur include dizziness, nausea, fainting, pain all over the body, to excessive hallucinations. To overcome a withdrawal reaction, then you will have to go back to taking the drug in a stronger dose.

Not only drugs that can make you addicted, drug stalls can also

It is not only drugs that can cause dependence. Any official medical drugs that are used continuously in the long term can actually cause dependence, including over-the-counter pain relievers and strong steroid drugs such as morphine and fentanyl which must be prescribed by a doctor.

Drug dependence can be a precursor to drug abuse and addiction, and can lead to a potentially fatal overdose. To prevent drug dependence, administration of the type of drug and its dosage and schedule must be under the supervision of a doctor.

If you need to increase or decrease the dose, consult a doctor. Only doctors can and have the right to change the dosage of medicines you take to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

People who are addicted to drugs often show symptoms of addiction, although the two are different things. Because of this, it is often difficult to distinguish between the two - especially in cases where the drugs used are prescription drugs.

What is a drug addiction?

Quoted from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug addiction is a condition that occurs when you can no longer control the urge or unbearable desire to use a drug. People with addictions do not have the power to stop what they are doing, using, or consuming even when its use damages or interferes with their duties in work, family, and social life.

Addiction is different from dependence. When you are dependent on doing a habit that you always do, you can stop it at any time according to the conditions that occur. Not with addiction. Addictions make you so completely out of control that you are no longer able to stop the behavior, regardless of what you try to stop and how hard you try.

The person is only concerned with the urge to use drugs rather than doing other normal activities, even to the point of using unlawful means to get it. So, it is not impossible that addiction can cause permanent changes in behavior, habits, and even brain function.

Not only drugs, addiction can also be caused by other things such as alcoholism, sex, gambling, and even coffee addiction.