The Difference Between Prescription Drug Addiction and Dependence

Many patients will legitimate medical problems are afraid of taking medications that they could become addicted to. While this is a real concern, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of prescription drug addiction. There is no reason for an individual to suffer in pain rather than taking a medication that could drastically improve their quality of life.

People frequently become worried that they have a prescription drug addiction when they really don’t. It’s important for patients to learn about the difference between drug addiction and dependence on a medication.

Patients who take a pain medication such as OxyContin often develop physical dependence to it. This means that they will experience withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop taking it. This is resolved by gradually reducing the dosage over a period of time, which is a process called detox. The individual is able to stop taking the drug without craving it.

Prescription drug addiction is marked by severe cravings to get more of the medication. The individual can have an uncontrollable desire for the psychological effects it causes. They want to feel the high of a drug like OxyContin, and this keeps them going back to it more than the withdrawal symptoms. If the patient stops taking the medication and experiences a relapse, this is a definite sign of addiction.

It is essential for patients to speak openly and honestly with their doctors about their concerns with prescription drug abuse. If an addiction is starting to develop, getting some form of addiction treatment as soon as possible can take care of the problem relatively easily. The patient will go through detox and then receive outpatient help with the goal of never taking the drug again.

Waiting until the addiction has become more severe makes treatment much more complicated, and the patient is more likely to relapse. A patient who experiences multiple relapses needs long-term addiction treatment, which often takes place in a residential rehab facility.