Differences Between Substance Abuse, Dependence, & Addiction

The substance is similar in chemical composition to amphetamine, which is a drug doctors prescribe to treat conditions including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. Three studies examined sustained/extended-release oral methylphenidate in addition to the study reporting methylphenidate versus aripiprazole discussed earlier. All three were in the outpatient setting and used the same dose (54 mg po OD). The 43 studies examined 23 individual pharmacotherapies, most individually and some in combination. Table 3 lists the pharmacotherapies reviewed, and the proposed mechanisms of action related to their use in studies of MA/AMPH dependence. Dependence refers to the chemical occurrence in which the body requires the drug in order to function normally.

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That said, for many, but not all, substances, tolerance and withdrawal are often part of the package of symptoms of a substance use disorder. Today, the APA classifies substance use disorders as mild, moderate, or severe. It doesn’t use the terms abuse and dependence to categorize the severity of an addiction. When people use the term “dependence,” they are usually referring to a physical dependence on a substance. Dependence is characterized by the symptoms of tolerance and withdrawal. While it is possible to have a physical dependence without being addicted, addiction is usually right around the corner.

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ICD codes have not been updated to reflect current understanding of addiction, unlike those in the DSM-5. Participants randomised to topiramate returned significantly fewer MA-positive UDS at Week 6, but this result was not sustained throughout the final 4 weeks of the treatment period [55]. The first randomised 79 MA/AMPH-dependent participants for 22 weeks to methylphenidate or placebo, with abstinence (measured by twice-weekly UDS, and defined as the weekly percentage of AMPH/MA-positive results) as the primary outcome [51].

• Dosing was tapered from 300 mg po OD for the first week, to 200 mg po OD in Week 2 and 100 mg po OD in Week 3.
• Methamphetamine can cause long-term damage to the brain, which can require specialized treatment and continuous care over a sustained period of time to promote abstinence.
• In traditional diagnoses, ‘addiction’ generally referred to a person’s physical reliance on alcohol, drugs, and other substances and behaviors, while ‘dependence’ was viewed more as the psychological reliance on addictive behavior.
• Snorting meth can damage sinus cavities and nasal passages, and lead to chronic nosebleeds and/or a perpetual runny nose.
• That said, for many, but not all, substances, tolerance and withdrawal are often part of the package of symptoms of a substance use disorder.
• They deliver a double punch — they don’t just increase the feel-good dopamine in the brain, but there’s also a need to take them consistently to avoid painful withdrawal symptoms.

Meth dependence time: How long to be dependent on meth?

According to older research from 2013, primate models demonstrate that meth alters brain structures involved in inhibitory control. These changes may impede a person’s ability to suppress the urge to engage in behaviors that are counterproductive or harmful. As with other substances that may cause a person to develop an SUD, using meth can lead to physical, mental, and social difficulties.

Seventy-nine percent of the reviewed studies excluded participants with comorbid mental health diagnoses or concomitant medications prescribed for comorbid mental health diagnoses. Research suggests that transient psychotic symptoms are observed in up to 40% of MA-using populations [79] and possibly more amongst treatment addiction vs dependence seekers. Forty-two percent of individuals who had used MA in the prior 12 months also reported being diagnosed or treated for a concurrent mental illness—three times as high as the non-illicit drug-using population [80]. Among MA users, the majority report a lifetime prevalence of depression and anxiety [81].

• Recognizing the differences between dependence and addiction is crucial for tailoring effective treatment and recovery strategies.
• Furthermore, a secondary analysis of Elkashef et al. [32] found higher responders within groups in a latent class analysis [69], suggesting further studies with different eligibility criteria are warranted.
• These clinics are usually staffed with a team of doctors and nurses who have experience with addiction and drug withdrawal.

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analysed in this study. He also sees people who have taken heroin without developing an addiction, yet they can’t seem to stop smoking and give up nicotine. You may wonder whether these folks had an addiction or a dependency on their drug of choice. Enter your phone number below to receive a free and confidential call from a treatment provider. In severe cases of intoxication or overdose, a person may require emergency care.

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In intention-to-treat analysis there were no differences in abstinence or study retention rates (defined by number of doses collected), although the methylphenidate arm achieved higher study retention from Week 6. The sample was heterogeneous, as participants https://ecosoberhouse.com/ were enrolled in both Finland, where all participants took intravenous AMPH, and New Zealand, where all participants smoked MA, but the results were analysed in aggregate. Outcome measures were any reported impact of treatment related to AMPH/MA use.

• It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
• Consumption of MA triggers a cascading release of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin.
• MA is considered a more potent derivative of AMPH, with a longer duration of action and increased ability to cross the blood–brain barrier; and global shifts in the illicit stimulant market have resulted in the predominance of MA [2, 3].
• “It’s progress and it’s quite significant,” says Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Addiction, which funded the two-year clinical trial involving roughly 400 patients.
• It’s also dangerous to combine meth with other stimulants, like cocaine.

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