DEPENDENCE Definition & Meaning

Research by SAMHSA titled “The Neurobiology Of Substance Use, Misuse, And Addiction” shows that chronic addiction leads to long-term deficits in brain chemistry, with some effects persisting even after recovery. This includes alcohol use disorder (AUD), which affects 14.5 million Americans aged 12 and older, leading to severe health risks, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Nicotine addiction, despite a decline in smoking rates, still impacts 12.5% of U.S. adults as of 2020.

Synonyms of dependency

While genetics increase susceptibility, environmental and psychological factors also play important roles in addiction development. Process addictions, or behavioral addictions, include compulsive behaviors like gambling, shopping, and internet use, which interfere with daily life and well-being. Both types of addiction cause significant harm and require professional treatment.

• Japan, which has little in the way of natural resources, has long been anxious about its dependence on energy imports, concerns amplified by events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• While dependence occurs with medications like opioids without addiction, addiction reflects a deeper loss of control driven by changes in brain chemistry.
• Shopping addiction, or Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD), has a 5.8% lifetime prevalence in the U.S., according to a study published in World Psychiatry.
• While it might seem like a small detail, using the right form shows attention to detail and respect for language standards.

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• In response, ASAM’s Board in 2018 recognized the need for an updated definition of addiction that would be more accessible to many of ASAM’s stakeholder groups, including patients, the media, and policymakers.
• The federal government allocated $35 billion for drug control in 2020, yet substance abuse continues to rise.
• A person can have an addiction without necessarily having a physical dependence.
• In addition to substance addictions, behavioral addictions, such as gambling and internet use, are also prevalent, with estimates suggesting that around 2-3% of the adult population is affected.
• Recognizing the differences between dependence and addiction is crucial for tailoring effective treatment and recovery strategies.
• Internet gaming disorder, where excessive online gaming causes distress, impacts between 0.3% and 1.0% of the population, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

In science, this word is used to describe conditions like chemical dependence. Since 2011, the public understanding and acceptance of addiction as a chronic brain disease and the possibility of remission and recovery have increased. At the same time, there is growing acknowledgment of the roles of prevention and harm reduction in the spectrum of addiction and recovery. In response, ASAM’s Board in 2018 recognized the need for an updated definition of addiction that would be more accessible to many of ASAM’s stakeholder groups, including patients, the media, and policymakers. Accordingly, the Board appointed a Task Force to Update Terms Related to Addiction and the Treatment of Addiction. With the input of internal and external stakeholders, the Task Force revised the definition of addiction for use in ASAM’s policy statements.

What Are the Different Types of Addiction?

• Addressing these environmental and social risk factors is important for effective addiction prevention and intervention.
• Mental dependence is when a person relies on a substance or behavior to cope with emotional challenges.
• “Addiction” has a focus on a negative meaning which is usually harmful in nature to the one with the addiction.

Addiction is a complex condition characterized by compulsive engagement in behaviors or consumption of substances despite harmful consequences. It involves a psychological and physical dependence that impairs an individual’s ability to function in everyday life. Addiction is recognized as both a chronic disease and a serious public health issue.

In medical and psychological contexts, “dependent” refers to an individual’s reliance on substances like drugs or alcohol, often to the point of addiction. A report by the National dependence definition Coalition for the Homeless states that 38% of homeless individuals suffer from alcohol dependency, while 26% struggle with drug addiction. Dependence refers to the quality or state of being dependent, that is, relying on something or someone else.

Peer pressure, especially during adolescence, encourages experimentation with drugs or alcohol, increasing the likelihood of addiction. Marijuana use disorder, involving cannabis dependence, affected approximately 4.8 million people in 2020, according to SAMHSA. Stimulant use disorder, involving drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine, impacted 1.5 million cocaine users and 1.1 million methamphetamine users in 2020, according to SAMHSA. Substance addictions require a combination of medical detox, behavioral therapy, and long-term treatment strategies to prevent relapse and support recovery. Addiction is diagnosed by medical professionals using clinical assessments, screening tools, and the DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorder (SUD). A person meeting 2–3 criteria is classified as having a mild disorder, 4–5 criteria indicate a moderate disorder and 6 or more signify a severe substance use disorder.

What Are the Physical and Mental Health Effects of Addiction?

For instance, when we talk about “drug dependence,” we mean an addiction where a person cannot function normally without the drug. People can have just a physical dependence, addiction, or both at the same time. This is when a person depends on a substance or behavior emotionally, such as when stressed. A person can have an addiction without necessarily having a physical dependence. Similarly, a person can have a physical dependence on a drug without feeling compelled to use it. However, they may still experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking it.

“Dependency” is a noun of “dependent”, changing it from a descriptive aspect to an item or an idea. Like “dependent” and “dependence”, “dependency” can be applied to something that has a dependency on something they feel they cannot function without or need in order to continue functioning. “Dependence” is a noun of “dependent”, changing its usage from a descriptor to an item detailing the need for something to continue functioning. A “dependence” only requires someone or something to need something to continue on, whether the people or machines can continue functioning without what they are dependent upon. There is little to no difference between “dependence” and “dependency”, as both words stem from the Sober living house same word, “dependent”.