Differences Between Use, Abuse And Dependence

The differences between use, abuse and addiction are varied even if in common language they are used almost indistinctly. Understanding what they refer to will help us to identify each reality and to attribute to it the meaning that corresponds to it. To understand the importance of this, let us reflect on the fact that drug use is one of the problems that most affects society and, above all, youth.

Furthermore, several studies show that the consumption pattern changes over time. In the 1980s and early 1990s, the most widely used drug was heroin. At present, its consumption has decreased, but new substances have appeared, especially the so-called synthetic drugs.

Tobacco and alcohol are still the most widely consumed toxic substances, while cannabis and its derivatives are among the illegal drugs. It should also be noted that the use of cocaine has recently increased in the youth population.

Below we explain the differences between use, abuse and addiction .

The consumption of substances according to the DSM

Currently one of the most important standards for diagnosing substance use is the American Psychiatric Association (DSM) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. We will refer to this text to establish the differences between use, abuse and addiction. More specifically, in the DSM-IV the distinction between abuse and dependence is based on the concept of abuse as a mild or early phase and dependence as a serious manifestation of a picture with similar characteristics.

In practice and in some cases, the diagnostic criteria for abuse were quite severe. That’s why DSM-5 combines the categories of use and addiction into a single disorder called substance use disorder. The diagnostic criteria for this disorder are as follows:

• Consumption of a large amount of substances or for a longer period of time than expected.
• Persistent desires or unsuccessful attempts to discontinue, reduce or control the use of the substance.
• Large investment of time in the research of the substance, in the consumption and in the recovery.
• Strong desire for consumption.
• Recurring consumption can lead to the non-fulfillment of duties in school, work or home.
• Continued use of the substance, despite recurring problems in the social or interpersonal sphere caused or exacerbated by the effects of consumption.
• Abandonment or limitation of important social, work or recreational activities due to consumption.
• Recurring use also occurs in situations of physical risk in relation to the substance.
• Continued use of the substance, despite the knowledge that you suffer from a problem that may be caused or exacerbated by such consumption.

• Tolerance.
• Withdrawal.

This is the current view of the problem of consumption, but what were the differences between previously used use, abuse and addiction?

Differences between use, abuse and addiction

First of all, “use” means that type of consumption in which, due to the quantity, frequency or condition of the subject, no immediate consequences on the consumer or on his environment are detected. It is a very complex term to define in clinical practice. This is because it is not enough to observe the frequency, since there may have been sporadic consumption in which the subject has clearly abused the substance.

In the same way, we cannot consider only the quantities, since consumption may not be excessive, but so frequent as to suggest some form of addiction. Therefore, we must be very careful in defining consumption as “use”.

As for the term “abuse”, it can be defined as a form of substance consumption in which, due to the quantity, frequency and / or specific situation of the subject, there are negative consequences for the consumer or his environment. For example, a woman may be moderate in her habitual consumption of alcohol and tobacco, but if she maintains these habits during pregnancy she incurs abuse.

Finally, we can define addiction as a behavioral model in which the consumption of a substance is prioritized over other previously prioritized behaviors. Substance use, which probably began as a sporadic experience of no apparent importance, becomes the center of a person’s life. In this way, he will spend most of his time thinking about drug use, looking for them, getting the money to buy them, consuming them, etc.

Conclusions

To give this problem the importance it deserves, the first step is to have a clear idea of ​​what each concept means. This is undoubtedly one of the fundamental points from which to start to implement the measures necessary to intervene in each case and raise awareness in society about it.