Addiction begins with a drink of alcohol, taking a pill, smoking, inhaling, injecting, or otherwise consuming a drug. For some, these are experiences that are within their control; drinking alcohol or using drugs is just something social or recreational. For many, they quickly feel compelled to drink or use drugs more frequently. When is drinking and substance use considered dependence, and when is it considered an addiction?
When Substance Use is Only Social
There is a lot of stigma surrounding alcohol and drug use. However, the truth is that “[a]pproximately two-thirds of American adults drink alcohol at least once during the course of a year. Most people drink responsibly, but approximately 13.8 million Americans have problems related to either alcohol abuse or alcoholism.” With the legalization of marijuana in many states, more people use the drug in its many forms for recreational use.
This type of social or recreational use in and of itself may not lead to dependency or addiction. Yet, the shame and stigma associated with drugs and alcohol could lead to the secret use of substances. The secrecy may lead a person to use a substance more frequently, leading to abuse.
Social acceptance may also be based on the type of drug or alcohol consumed. A glass of wine with dinner or a beer on the weekend is fine for some social standards, but other alcoholic beverages or drugs are not acceptable. Which substances are defined as “acceptable” and “not acceptable” may vary, but ultimately if a person is using this substance in large quantities in secret, that may be a sign of a problem.
When Substance Use is to Numb Pain
Substance use becomes different when it is used to numb pain. Whether it is a recent breakup, problems at home or work, or older emotional pain that is unresolved, drinking or using drugs to numb or forget can easily lead to ingesting more substances and more frequently. This can easily happen without being aware of how much or how often you are using substances.
When you are simply trying to escape or forget, you can lose track of that line between social or recreational substance use. Habitual drinking or drug use that can lead to dependency or addiction will begin. Having a glass of wine with friends at dinner is very different from counting down the time until you are off work so that you can go to a bar and drink until you are numb, or even just drink or use other substances alone at home.
Binge Drinking, Heavy Drinking, and Abusing Drugs
Along the same lines of drinking to numb or forget are binge drinking, heavy drinking, and abusing other drugs. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines several levels of alcohol use. Binge drinking is defined as consuming four drinks for women or five drinks for men within two hours. Heavy drinking is consuming eight drinks per week for women or 15 drinks per week for men. Abusing drugs can be exceeding prescribed levels of medication such as pain meds or using illicit drugs.
Binge drinking, heavy drinking, and abusing prescription or illicit drugs are all ways in which drug dependency or addiction can be developed. This process can happen very quickly or develop slowly over time.
What Constitutes Dependency?
Drug or alcohol dependency refers to the physiological need for substances. Certain drugs, such as prescription pain medications, cause the body to develop a tolerance for the drug, which causes the body to need more of the medication and more frequently in order to block pain. Alcohol and other drugs can also cause physiological changes in the brain and body, which create intense cravings for the substance and withdrawal when the substance is not ingested. This is known as dependency. Dependency can exist with or without addiction.
When Does Dependency Become Addiction?
Dependency becomes an addiction when there is a compulsion to use drugs or alcohol that interferes with normal function. Someone with an addiction may not be able to stop using drugs or alcohol without help. Most likely, they will struggle to keep obligations to friends, family, and work. The compulsion to use drugs or alcohol may lead them to continue despite harmful consequences in their life, including loss of job, loss of relationships or family members, or even loss of freedom due to driving under the influence or other criminal activities.
Addiction can also include dependency, which is one of the reasons it can be so difficult to overcome. But whether you have a drug or alcohol dependency, or a dependency and addiction, there is always help and hope. With treatment, and over time, you can overcome even the physiological factors of addiction.
Substance abuse is difficult because many people drink or use substances socially, yet there is still a stigma around substance use. Where is the line between substance use and substance abuse? The motivation for drinking or using substances is one factor; frequency is another. Dependency occurs when the body develops a physiological need for substances. Addiction is when there is likely a physiological need, and there is also a disruption of normal function. If you are drinking or using substances to the point that you continue to do so despite negative consequences, you may have an addiction. At Rancho Milagro Recovery, we specialize in treatment for addiction. Our caring staff can help you break away from substance abuse because most of them have been through treatment themselves. Call (951) 526-4582 to find out about our beautiful ranch and myriad rescue animals that can help to facilitate your healing. Learn how to free your mind and body from substances so that you can show up again in your life.