The Difference Between Addiction And Drug Abuse

By Author: Frank Froggatt
Total Articles: 96
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Lots of times when the terms drug misuse and drug dependency are talked about, people use them in the same context, but the fact is they are different animals. People become dependent on drugs by misusing them, but there is a lot more involved in the actual dependency than just misuse.

Basically what you have with drug misuse is a person who uses drugs repeatedly and frequently in an uncontrolled manner. Another definition that you could use is to say that it is the chronic misuse of a drug. This definition includes the use of drugs for roles other than what they were designed for. In fact, drug misuse has a range of definitions, but all suggest disapproval at the use or overuse of a drug for non-therapeutic reasons.

On the other hand drug dependency happens when a persons body becomes dependent on having that chemical in their system and when they don't have it they can suffer from withdrawls that cause physical and real adverse symptoms to the person addicted. Drugs interfere with the normal functioning of the brain making it altered to the point that operating without the drug is virtually hopeless.

When ...
... a person becomes dependent on a drug, it doesn't matter what type of adverse health reactions or damage to their body the drug does, they continue to use it. This behavior causes them to have complete disregard for their individual health as long as I get that next high or head change and that they need. Quitting for these people just isn't as simple as "just say no". This is a time when a person's drug misuse becomes an dependency and it must be addressed and dealt with.

Knowing the difference between drug misuse and dependency can help you to prevent somebody from escalating to a point. When you know exactly what you are dealing with, it's a little easier to begin looking for treatment options.

It doesn't matter whether it's you are cherished one that is hooked to or misusing drugs, people who are in this situation and life need to seek out treatment as soon as they can in order to protect themselves from serious health problems. Treatment can have a profound effect on the drug user as well as on society as a whole. Healing the addicts in our society improves social and intellectual functioning and makes for a more nonviolent community and world.

The number one cause of preventable illness and death in the United States is drug misuse. No matter what drug you are talking about, be it any narcotic or mind altering drug, these things can cause irreparable impairment to a body. Drug use can be prevented, and getting people informed about it is the first step.

Dependency and drug misuse are plagues for our society. Both have been around for years and years, but if we take the time to recognize not only the difference between the two, but also the signs and signals that indicate drug use, we can begin to heal ourselves both as individual people and as a society.
When it comes to being addicted to drugs, admitting the problem is the opening step to recovery. If you would like to learn more about drug rehabilitation programs, then you can learn more by visiting http://freeresidentialdrugrehab.com.