Understanding how tolerance and abuse relate to and differ from addiction can help people and their loved ones with substance abuse problems understand better the disease of addiction, its different physical and mental parts, how it develops, and how it can sometimes be treated with the help of rehab centers like Genesis Medical Center.
Addiction is caused by a lack of willpower. It jeopardizes your health. And doing so will cause you or your family financial, emotional, or other harm. Even if you want to quit, the desire to get high and use drugs grows stronger with each passing minute.
Addiction is not synonymous with dependency or tolerance. When a physically dependent person abruptly stops taking a substance, withdrawal symptoms appear. Tolerance develops when a substance is used frequently until its effects weaken.
Substance Abuse
“Drug abuse” means the use of any substance, legal or illegal. You could take too much or the wrong medication. Self-medication, stress reduction, and deferred problem-solving are all incorrect uses of narcotics. Most of the time, though, you will be able to lessen or get rid of your drug dependence.
How is Substance Abuse Treated?
A patient’s dose is gradually reduced under medical supervision during drug withdrawal. This permits the body to adjust to life without the medication by restarting neurochemical production. This makes it possible for people to stop using drugs without hurting themselves or taking longer to recover because of painful withdrawal symptoms.
If a person has established a tolerance to drugs, they are more likely to overdose the next time they use them. Overdoses are common in people who relapse after a period of abstinence and resume taking the same high dose as before therapy. People who respond well to treatment may need extra support after therapy to keep them interested and reduce the chance of a relapse.
Long-term use of opioids for pain relief, for example, may result in tolerance and physical dependence. There is no indication that a person is addicted. Few people who use drugs under the guidance of a trained medical professional get addicted.
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