Dependency vs. Addiction: How to Know If You’ve Crossed the Line

By Abbas Sina, MD

Setting aside rational thinking, self-preservation, and being willing to take more risks, may mean you’ve moved from dependency to addiction.

(Photo source: iStock)

With so much attention focused on the opioid addiction crisis1, many doctors are reluctant to prescribe prescription pain medications and many people are reluctant to take them. The fear of becoming addicted is often perpetuated by widespread media coverage of how “addictive” medications like Percocet, Vicodin, Oxycodone, and others can be. Rightfully so, they are not without risks. But much of the stigma2 stems from misunderstandings about addiction, and what it means to become addicted versus dependent3 on medication-or any substance (like alcohol), for that matter. There’s a very clear distinction between the two. Learning to recognize the signs that you may have crossed the line can help you take advantage of the medical benefits of these medications without sliding down the slippery slope of addiction.

Understanding the risks

Nearly 100 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from chronic and acute pain. Opioids continue to remain a prominent treatment4 both in healthcare facilities and at home. When prescribed and used appropriately, these drugs are proven effective for resolving…