“When is someone considered "addicted"?”
I feel like addiction is used too often and loosely. Medically, when is someone really considered addicted to something?
3 Answers
True addiction involves continued use of drugs or alcohol despite life changes like getting fired, relationship breakdowns, loss of family connections and continued higher level of use despite increasing physical and mental problems. They should also be experiencing withdrawal when they haven't used for a while.
You are absolutely correct!
The simplest way to answer this would be to explain the difference between 2 common terms used in addiction. The first term is called dependency. A dependent person is physically dependent on a drug to feel normal. Their body has adapted to the drug so now their body needs it. If they don't take the drug, they go into what is called withdrawal. On the street, most people call this addiction but it's not.
An addicted person, on the other hand, will actually continue using the drug despite negative consequences. Their spouse leaves because of drugs and they continue to use. They lose their children because of drugs and they continue to use. They go to jail because of drugs and they continue to use. They lose their job because of drugs and they continue to use. They value the drug so much that they are willing to lose everything or almost everything for it including their life.
Let me tell you about a conversation I once had with a recovering addict so you can understand what a true addiction is like:
Me: "With all these overdoses, I don't understand why my phone isn't ringing off the hook."
Recovering addict: "That's because it's good stuff."
Me: "Yeah but they could die."
Recovering addict: "We don't care. We know it's the best high we're ever going to get."
Says it all. Hope this helps!
The simplest way to answer this would be to explain the difference between 2 common terms used in addiction. The first term is called dependency. A dependent person is physically dependent on a drug to feel normal. Their body has adapted to the drug so now their body needs it. If they don't take the drug, they go into what is called withdrawal. On the street, most people call this addiction but it's not.
An addicted person, on the other hand, will actually continue using the drug despite negative consequences. Their spouse leaves because of drugs and they continue to use. They lose their children because of drugs and they continue to use. They go to jail because of drugs and they continue to use. They lose their job because of drugs and they continue to use. They value the drug so much that they are willing to lose everything or almost everything for it including their life.
Let me tell you about a conversation I once had with a recovering addict so you can understand what a true addiction is like:
Me: "With all these overdoses, I don't understand why my phone isn't ringing off the hook."
Recovering addict: "That's because it's good stuff."
Me: "Yeah but they could die."
Recovering addict: "We don't care. We know it's the best high we're ever going to get."
Says it all. Hope this helps!
Agreed. You're "addicted" if you have one or more of the three "C" symptoms: Craving/compulsive use, loss of Control, and ongoing use despite bad Consequences. If you're abusing opioids, sedatives, or alcohol and have withdrawal symptoms when you stop, that also usually points to addiction.
