We often use “addiction” and “dependence” interchangeably to refer to a substance use disorder but they don’t quite mean the same thing. However, they are closely related and there is a large area of overlap. When we talk about “dependence,” “physical dependence,” or “chemical dependence,” it refers to the physiological ways your body adapts to […]
Category Archives: Addiction
10
May
May
At least half of people with substance use disorders have a co-occurring mental health issue. Common dual diagnoses include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, OCD, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and schizophrenia. For many of these, it’s clear that the mental health issue came first. Many have strong genetic components and symptoms of […]
03
May
May
The dominant model of addiction right now is that addiction is a chronic, progressive disease, meaning you will always have it and, unless you get treatment, it will continue to get worse. This puts addiction in the company of conditions like asthma, high blood pressure, and diabetes and, according to the National Institute on Drug […]
01
May
May
It’s hard to get a loved one to accept she has a substance use disorder. People struggling with addiction are ingenious at finding ways to justify and rationalize their behavior. Admitting you have a problem is difficult and accepting that you have to do something about your substance use is a big step. However, even […]
