Addiction and Dependency

Abstract

Terms such as addiction and dependency are frequently used to describe patterns of illicit drug use. However, there are no universal definitions of these terms and they are frequently used inconsistently and interchangeably. As a result, it is difficult to estimate the number of drug users who can be described as addicted or dependent. Addiction tends to refer to dependence on a particular drug or drugs, which has developed to the extent that it has a severe and harmful impact on an individual drug user. The term implies that the drug user is unable to give up drug use without incurring adverse effects. Whilst ‘addiction’ is widely used by medical professionals to describe the condition experienced by drug users, ‘addict’ has become a derogatory term to refer to individuals who are not only dependent on drugs but also dependent on society since they are typically viewed as welfare dependent and/or offenders. Consequently, Drugscope (a UK‐based independent center for expertise on drugs) suggests the term ‘addiction’ is inexplicably linked to society's reaction to drug users and argues that there is an emerging consensus that the term dependency is preferable. Dependency can refer to physical and/or emotional dependency and drug users may experience one or both forms. Drug users can become physically dependent on drugs, thus continuing with their drug use in order to avoid the physical discomfort of withdrawal. They can also become emotionally dependent on drugs; for example, relying upon drug use to seek pleasure or to avoid pain.