Most people think that addiction, physical dependence, and tolerance to drugs are all the same thing, but nothing could be further from the truth.
As a provider of professional Substance Abuse Counseling in Ohio, we at WCAP Counseling have made this article to help our clients familiarize themselves with the concepts of addiction, physical dependence, and tolerance.
What Is Addiction?
The American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM), the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), and the American Pain Society (APS) define addiction as:
“…a primary, chronic, neurobiological disease, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations.”
It’s characterized by one or two of the following symptoms:
- impaired control over drug use
- compulsive use
- continued use despite harm
- craving
In this case, patients will need Substance Disorder Treatment in Reynoldsburg, Ohio to overcome addictive tendencies.
What Is Physical Dependence?
The AAPM, ASAM, and APS define physical dependence as:
“…a state of adaptation that is manifested by a drug class specific withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by abrupt cessation, rapid dose reduction, decreasing blood level of the drug, and/or administration of an antagonist.”
What Is Tolerance?
The ASAM, AAPM, and APS define tolerance as:
“…a state of adaptation in which exposure to a drug induces changes that result in a diminution (i.e., diminishing or lessening) of one or more of the drug’s effects over time.”
Reliable Mental Health Counseling for Your Loved Ones
We understand how difficult it is to find reliable Counseling Services, especially during a pandemic. Luckily for you, we provide professional TeleHealth Therapy, so that even clients from faraway cities and rural areas can get access to high-quality and trustworthy mental health services.
Call us to learn more about our programs!