What's the difference between addiction and dependence?

Dr. Peter Coleman, who is Board-certified in Addiction Medicine and is in long-term recovery himself, responds to some concerned raised on our TikTok channel about the difference between drug addiction and dependence. This topic recently stirred up quite a bit of controversy when we posted a video by Dr Coleman discussing how long it takes to get 'hooked' on Suboxone (buprenorphine).
-Safe, Comfortable Outpatient Detox
The Coleman Institute for Addiction Medicine has been a leading outpatient addiction treatment center since 1998. Our innovative withdrawal management programs, often referred to as The Coleman Method, have helped thousands of people free themselves from addiction to Alcohol, Opioids, and Benzodiazepines. Originally founded in Richmond, Virginia, our network has expanded to cover 14 cities across the US.
-3 - 8 Day Opioid Detoxification Process
For short-acting opiates like oxycodone, most patients complete their detox and begin Naltrexone therapy within 5 days. Longer-acting opiates like Suboxone and Methadone typically take 8 days. Our standard opioid treatment package in Richmond, VA, Wellesley, MA (Boston area) and Willoughby, OH (Cleveland area) includes the detox and 6 months of case management and Naltrexone therapy. As a non-addictive opioid blocker, Naltrexone dramatically reduces cravings so that patients can focus on their recovery. We have a 98% success rate for completing detoxification and starting Naltrexone therapy. During the detox, we work with patients and their families to develop an appropriate aftercare plan. We also offer a convenient, 3-day outpatient alcohol detox and a Rapid Benzodiazepine Detox.
-Caring, Empathetic Environment
Our founder, Dr. Peter Coleman, understands first-hand the challenges our patients are facing due to his own personal struggle with the disease of addiction. He has been in long term recovery since 1984. Dr. Coleman has dedicated his career to treating addiction patients and creating a team and an environment conducive to long term recovery for his patients.
-For more information, please call us at 888-788-5474 or visit us at www.thecolemaninstitute.com

[@endlessadventure541]

it's difficult to explain but but dependence is not always a bad thing. If you're a patient like me who has had nine spinal surgeries and has permanent spinal damage, the sensation for the rest of my life will be as if I'm sitting in the electric chair, So because my condition is palliative, the dependence part doesn't matter. Being on a low dose of oral morphine along with another medication that is very insignificant, I live a full and normal life. But your body does become dependent on it, so if I were to be repaired tomorrow completely, physically, it would still take me a month or two to quit the medication. Opioids can't be quit cold Turkey. They have to be dropped one drop at a time until you get to 0. But if it gives you back your life and you stay on a constant low dose that never increases, and it works, consider yourself one of the lucky ones.

[@kathleengivant-taylor2277]

Well yeah. Well said

[@glowgirl8171]

Addiction/dependence are the same. I'm 23 years in recovery and it took a good 1-2 years before I began feeling like I could make it without opioids. .The mental struggle is brutal, especially if you don't have a support system . Thank god I had a great drug counselor because my family was horrible. They're all alcoholics yet they feel their drug of choice is acceptable no matter what they do. To stay clean I had to remove myself from them and my life is far better for it.

[@Perrettayo]

I don’t believe that’s true. Most people who are dependent would be someone on a drug to help with pain or have a reason to be using it without it wouldn’t be able to walk, live their life, they don’t want to be taking them but they have to era (dependent) but could clear it in 7 days if their pain subsided they would feel better and not wanting to be on the drug for any other reason then for what it was numbing pain wise. (Not mental pain). On the contrary being addicted your going to take more weather you need it or not because your using it the wrong way for something you shouldn’t be.. Being addicted you continue to take some when you didn’t even need them (no pain or reason other than wanting too) you may be technically “addicted” but someone who is only using them to help them live with back surgery’s and such or whatever you couldn’t say oh your just a drug addict bc what you expect them to just sit in pain all day and not be able to move?

[@Perrettayo]

Can’t say they are the same just because drug addicts use them and put a bad name on it for the ones for actually need them.

[@LD10000]

People on many anti-depressants become chemically/physically dependent. Some of those medications are really hard to adjust or get off of them all together.

[@lastknowngood0]

Apology accepted.Dont worry about it Dude.

[@666wilf]

I also forgot to mention that even now 32mg of buprenorphine doesn't take away the craving and I feel terrible.

[@ghostwriter1415]

Get a passport, go to Canada, demand DiaMorph! You're supposed to be evaluated, but I was an aggressive American, determined to do the "single-malt scotch-whiskey" of opiates, Heroin! It's the only hallucinogen I've encountered that doesn't have anxiogenic a/effects. Similar to the way Carisoprodal is a SMR, but has a breakdown effect that feels good, so does Heroin, and that's why it's the only dope that let's you see pretty colors!

[@davidkruse4030]

See if methadone is an option. Or are you also on Benzos?

[@666wilf]

@@davidkruse4030 I'm not on benzo although I do take them once on a while. I'm finally settling on bupe now and managed to do a fast taper down to about 14mg. I did try Methadone but unfortunately couldn't get that to last any longer than about 3 and a half hours.

[@larry1824]

I dont think there is really