Author: Charles Frank

Drug addiction substance use disorder Symptoms and causes

Repeated use of these substances may result in changes in how the brain functions. Additionally, people may build up a tolerance to the substance, meaning that they require more of the drug to feel its effects. Most drugs affect the brain’s “reward circuit,” causing euphoria as well as flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine. A properly functioning reward system motivates a person to repeat behaviors needed to thrive, such as eating and spending time with loved ones. Surges of dopamine in the reward circuit cause the reinforcement of pleasurable but unhealthy behaviors like taking drugs, leading people to repeat the behavior again and again.

Opioids: Understanding Addiction Versus Dependence

This class of drugs includes, among others, heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone, fentanyl and oxycodone. Synthetic cannabinoids, also called K2 or Spice, are sprayed on dried herbs and then smoked, but can be prepared as an herbal tea. Despite manufacturer claims, these are chemical compounds rather than “natural” or harmless products. These drugs can produce a “high” similar to marijuana and have become a popular but dangerous alternative. Two groups of synthetic drugs — synthetic cannabinoids and substituted or synthetic cathinones — are illegal in most states. The effects of these drugs can be dangerous and unpredictable, as there is no quality control and some ingredients may not be known.

Find more top doctors on

If your health care provider prescribes a drug with the potential for addiction, use care when taking the drug and follow instructions. Drug use can have significant and damaging short-term and long-term effects. Taking some drugs can be particularly risky, especially if you take high doses or combine them with other drugs or alcohol. Abruptly stopping this substance disrupts homeostasis, and the body must adapt to not having the drug in the body. This article will discuss what physical dependence is, as well as its causes, symptoms, and treatments.

If you believe you have an addiction, it’s never too late to look for help. Working with a health care professional will allow you to explore the options to treat your addiction. Speak with your doctor if you develop a tolerance to your medication or any other substance. If you are taking a prescription medication, your doctor may change the class of medication, which may affect your body in a different way.

Follow Mayo Clinic

1. SUD can occur separately from physical dependence, although in the case of opioid use, a patient is also typically physically dependent on the drug.
2. Like opioids, experts tend to consider them relatively safe when a person takes them as needed, sparingly, and for short periods of time.
3. These drugs can cause severe intoxication, which results in dangerous health effects or even death.

Speak with your doctor if you have become physically dependent on a medication or other substance. Other common substances that cause dependence are nicotine and pain relievers, particularly narcotics. Stopping suddenly will likely cause symptoms, and they can be serious.

Although they may seem similar, addiction and dependence are distinct concepts. The fear of judgment, discrimination, or even rejection from loved ones can keep people trapped in a cycle of silence and shame. Stimulants include amphetamines, meth (methamphetamine), cocaine, methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, others) and amphetamine-dextroamphetamine (Adderall XR, Mydayis). They’re often used and misused in search of a “high,” or to boost energy, to improve performance at work or school, or to lose weight or control appetite.

So unless it is urgent, gradually cutting down on the amount and how often you use it should make it easier. If you were addicted to the substance, just cutting down wouldn’t ordinarily work. People who are addicted to a substance use it even if it has no medical benefit. They use the substance no matter what and despite the consequences.

More on Substance Abuse and Addiction

Although researchers do not fully understand the precise mechanisms, it is possible that the substances cause changes to occur in the brain and central nervous system. When addiction to a substance develops, it is called substance use disorder. It occurs when a person has difficulty stopping substance use or engaging in a behavior that provides some type of benefit. A patient with a SUD begins to lose the ability to effectively prioritize their well-being over the continued use of the drug. Sometimes, a well-timed intervention can be the catalyst that starts recovery.

Acute withdrawal syndrome usually lasts for a relatively short period of time, while PAWS is a low level continuation of some symptoms that can last for years or even indefinitely. Addiction is interchangeable with the term SUD, and physical dependence falls under the SUD umbrella. Although some people may use the terms interchangeably, physical dependence does differ from addiction. People used to believe that addiction only happened in certain areas, like in inner cities, or among specific groups of people, like those who were down and  out.

The terms “addiction” and “dependence” can seem similar, but they are different. However, the APA explains that as the brain and body adapt to the effects of the substance, the person needs to consume more and more of it to achieve the same effect. This leads to a cycle of addiction and dependence that contributes to substance use disorder.

Although this can refer to dependence on medications that control health conditions, it can also be a symptom of addiction, which is different from physical dependence. Caffeine is an example of a common substance that causes physical dependence. If you can’t function properly in the morning without your cup of coffee, it could be that you are caffeine-dependent. When you miss your morning cup, you might develop physical withdrawal symptoms, like a headache, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and more. Unlike tolerance, which focuses on how much of the substance you need to feel its effect, physical dependence happens when your body starts to rely on the drug. If you were to suddenly stop using it, you would likely experience some harsh symptoms.