Posted by simcha on August 23, 2010, at 18:42:09
In reply to Re: Meds: Addiction vs. Medical Dependence, posted by linkadge on August 23, 2010, at 12:32:51
Thanks everyone for your thoughtful responses. I struggle with this topic sometimes when I hear people talking about not wanting to go on a benzo for anxiety or some other legitimate use, use an opiate for pain, or use an anti-depressant because they don't want to become "addicted" or "dependent."
I don't like being dependent on medication in order to have a decent quality of life. And I continue to choose to take my medications because they allow me to have a decent quality of life.
Sometimes I worry that if we have a terrible disaster (I'm in the Bay Area, think earthquakes) and I can't get my meds, what would happen. Also, I sometimes worry that if our country's economy and politics crash, I won't be able to get my medication. And I wonder what it would be like to run out of medication and be forced to stop cold turkey due to lack of supply. These thoughts don't dominate my life. They are there though like birds chirping in the trees as I walk down a forest path on a summer day.
To me, addiction involves way more than simply taking a drug/medication and becoming dependent on it. To me, addiction means that there are other underlying psychological issues that cause people to use substances, food, sex, gambling, shopping, etc. in order to blot out reality because reality is too painful. I believe that a true addict receives real negative consequences for their behaviors including the use of whatever it is that they are using as an object of their addiction.
In my point of view, the difference between addiction and medical dependence on drugs/medications boils down to this: Addiction to drugs/medications makes one's life unmanageable. It makes one's life miserable and one's ability to function in the world is impaired. Medical dependence to drugs/medications entails being dependent on these substances in order to improve one's condition and functioning in the world. In medical dependence the consequences of quitting these medications/drugs would be decreased functioning and a lessened quality of life.
Well, that's my two cents.
poster:simcha
thread:959454
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100821/msgs/959539.html