What is the difference between dependancy and addiction to a medication?

Question

My doctor put me on klonopin. She said there was a risk of dependancy.

Answer 1

There is a slight difference. This explanation uses to specific drugs as an example but it pretty much applies for any drugs/medecine that runs the risk of dependency.

Addiction is the more generic term; all it means is that you're doing something and you can't stop. The thing you're addicted to does not have to be chemically a narcotic. It does not have to be a chemical. It does not have to be harmful; the point is you can't stop. Whether you want to stop or not is unimportant, only that you can't. Marijuana, Heroin and a lot of prescription drugs are all addictive. So is chocolate. So is IRC. So is sex.

The difference between an addiction and a chemical dependency is most clear if you examine the difference between IRC and heroin. IRC, you do it a lot, and after awhile you just don't really want to stop. Awhile after that, you discover you do want to stop-- you're tired of it-- but somehow, every time you turn on that computer, your hand moves that cursor over that IRC client icon and double-clicks. Maybe you don't stop because you don't know how to stop; because you have nothing better to do; because you've come to get something out of it you can't get anywhere else. Either way, you have an addiction. You have a need. You do not have a chemical dependency.

Chemical dependency creates need as well, but to a much worse degree. And the difference lies in what happens when you violate that need.

Now think about what happens when you take heroin. You have actual chemicals (endorphins, or approximations thereof) going through your veins there, chemicals that aren't there normally in that intensity. And the chemicals make you feel good. IRC releases chemicals that make you feel good, too-- but those chemicals are supposed to be there. Those chemicals your brain put there, because that's how feelings work more or less. But the chemicals the heroin sets loose aren't supposed to be there, and they do funky things. Specifically they go and find your pain transmitters, and plug them up so the pain can't go through. So the pain stops. Physical pain, emotional pain, whatever-- it can't get through.

The thing this naively ignores is that your body is designed to route around damage. And if you have transmitters being plugged that your brain didn't plug, it will interpret that as damage and route around it. It will grow new transmitters.

You now have new pain transmitters that you didn't have before. Meaning you now transmit pain more efficiently. And so as soon as that heroin goes away and the transmitters are no longer being blocked, you will go into effectively the opposite of a heroin rush; you will now be more receptive to pain than you were before. This is what a low is. This is what withdrawal is.

Thing is, those new transmitters you just grew don't go away. They stay there. It's permanent. And that's what a chemical dependency is; you now no longer are able to function the way you were before normally. Something that before your body could supply naturally now has to be supplied by the heroin. And so you are dependent on it, not for something that the substance gives you, but for something the absence of the substance has taken away.

So you do IRC for awhile and stop it, and you have nothing missing; you are the same person; the only thing beckoning you back is the memory. Take heroin for awhile and stop it, and a part of you is gone; you chemically are missing an ability that you had before, because your body is giving out the same chemicals naturally but your biological need for those chemicals has been increased.

If you still dont understand, I suggest you talk to the doctor. Its your right to know!

Answer 2

To be honest, I think the word "dependency" is just a way of trying to make some people feel better about their addiction. There really isn't any difference - some people's addiction may be more severe in the sense of the level of desparation or difficulty in stopping, but there's no clear dividing line and someone who seems not very needy of their substance/behaviour may find it very hard indeed to stop, while someone who seems totally addicted may be able to stop surprisingly easily. I dislike the use of the word "dependency" for alcohol, drug and gambling addictions, because it often seems to make the person feel they don't need to stop - "oh, it's OK, I'm not addicted, just dependent".

Answer 3

Dependancy and addiction are the same thing - just a different word.

Klonopin is an anti-anxiety medication that will help you relax. It is habit forming - but the good normally outweighs the bad. If you are on a low dose, then it shouldn't be a problem.

Answer 4

No they are not the same, they are use in the same tters sometimes but they have a different meaning. Dependency means you need that drug to function or live, addiction means you dont need that drug anymore but you cant get off of it cause youre addicted. If a person is diabetic they are not addictid to insulin, they are dependent on the the insulin to keep their blood sugar low.

Answer 5

They are not the same thing. Addiction refers to the use of a substance for a purpose other than what it's meant for - ei. to get high. If you are dependent on a medication to control your anxiety but you're not taking it for the fun of it, then your not addicted, just dependent.

Answer 6

I think dependency is the person still taking the drug even though the doctor has taken him/her off. Dosage is as prescribed previously.

Addiction is similar. Only that the person probably overdoses by taking either more pills than needed at one go or more frequently (like taking 1 pill every hour as opposed to taking 1 pill every 6 hours).

Answer 7

I am in the same position and yes they are the same , you can not just stop taking them without repercussions , you have to gradually reduce your dosage when stopping them.

Answer 8

Dependancy;is that something you can't live without it,you depend on it .
Addiction:is something you take it regularly like drugs.

Answer 9

Depency means that you dont always want to take it but need to take it and addiction mean the urge to take it and the need to take.

Answer 10

they mean the same thing kara