What Is the Difference Between Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction?

Question by Chronic: What is the difference between drug abuse and drug addiction?
I am witing something freelance and just wondering if anyone can give me an addequite difference between drug abuse and drug addiction.

The definition of an addict is: 1. To cause to become physiologically or psychologically dependent on a habit-forming substance
2. To occupy (oneself) with or involve (oneself) in something habitually or compulsively

Definition of drug abuse: he use of illegal drugs or the inappropriate use of legal drugs. The repeated use of drugs to produce pleasure, to alleviate stress, or to alter or avoid reality (or all three).

The use of a drug for a purpose other than that for which it is normally prescribed or recommended.

the habitual misuse of a chemical substance

They are very similar definitions. Almost the same.

Why are people either classified as a drug abuser or a drug addict? Drug abusers don’t usually get the intese care an addict does. Remember, the definition for addic includes psychological addiction… not just physical.

Best answer:

Answer by Nico
drug abuse-when you get pain killers from the doctor and you take too many for the effects

addiction is when you can’t stop taking them,because you’re addicted to them.

drug abuse usually comes before addiction

Add your own answer in the comments!

Drug Addiction 1951 – Educational Film by Encyclopedia Britannica – Starting with scary addicts and an overview of drugs, the film then goes on to depict drug use and interaction of drug users and dealers. This film teaches us that you can save on drug money by shooting up instead of snorting things; nice job, film.

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Love is my drug… My addiction. – by JasmineNoelle (Jasmine Noelle)

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Don’t be drug addiction. P?lis. – by DoganBB (Do?an Bekir Bilge)