Dependence vs. Addiction

Dependence means needing a drug to feel physically okay. It doesn’t necessarily mean you are addicted—for example, many people can be dependent on a prescribed medication without being addicted. The difference is that people that are addicted start to think about the drug all the time and make it a higher priority than other things in their life; they often make bad decisions that work against their health and their overall well-being. In the case of a medication, they may start to abuse it (using it differently than how the doctor has prescribed) by taking more of it or crushing it and injecting it. Or in the case of a drug like marijuana, they will be unable to stop using it even though it is causing problems with school, jobs, or relationships. People with addictions are often unable to see—or admit—that this is happening.