Addiction; Dependency; Habit; Routine; Ritual; Behavior -

In my work, we place "habitual ways" into the following categories:

Addiction - Seeking; inability to stop using; gets in the way of a "normal" life and relationships. Physical and mental dependence. Typically seen negatively.
Finding the next "fix" is more important than finding the money to pay for it. 

Dependency - Gotta have for physical needs; not debilitating. Physical dependence.
I can't sleep at nights without my sleeping meds; wish I could. 

Habit - Healthy or unhealthy, typically a mental behavior and need. Often there is a trigger for a routine. An action to do something repeatedly.
I always have a Diet Pepsi with my lunch. 

Routine - Doing things in a regular/habitual way. Doing something repeatedly for the action.
Get up, pray, brush my teeth, turn on the radio, shower. Every single day. 

Ritual - Habit of doing something related to purpose.
We bless our food before we eat it. 

Behavior - Way of living in response to the environment. Action.
My child is golden, until he's with friends; then he's a terror. 

Addiction versus Dependency

There is a difference between physical dependence and addiction. Addiction is a neurobiological disease that has genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors. It is characterized by an inability to stop using a drug; compulsive drug use; continued use despite failure to meet work, social, or family obligations; and, sometimes (depending on the drug), tolerance and withdrawal.

Physical dependence is the body’s adaptation to a particular drug. Physical dependence does not constitute addiction, but it can accompany addiction. After time, a body may become used to receiving particular doses of a medication. It may build a tolerance to the medication and require higher doses of the drug to achieve a certain effect. A person may also experience physical withdrawal symptoms if the drug is abruptly stopped or the dosage is reduced too quickly. Physical dependence can happen with the extended use of many drugs—including many prescription drugs, even if taken as instructed.

Pseudo-addiction is a term that describes behaviors that may occur when pain is not being treated adequately. Patients who are desperate for pain relief may watch the clock until it is time for their next medication dose. They may do things that would normally be considered “drug seeking” behaviors, such as: taking medications not prescribed to them, taking illegal drugs, or using deception to obtain medications. The difference between pseudo-addiction and true addiction is the behaviors stop when the patient’s pain is adequately treated.

Addiction behaviors to watch for: Taking medications more frequently or at higher doses than prescribed. Ingesting drugs in ways other than directed. Frequent reports of lost or stolen prescriptions. Doctor shopping. Using multiple pharmacies.

Addicts:

·         Take drugs to get high and avoid life.

·         Isolate themselves and become lost to their families.

·         Unable to interact appropriately with society.

·         Eventually unable to hold down a job.

·         The life of an addict is a continuous downward spiral.

Patients with pain:

·         Take drugs to function normally and live.

·         With adequate relief, become active members of their families.

·         With adequate relief, interact and make positive contributions.

·         With adequate relief, are able to go back to work.

·         With adequate relief, their life progresses in a positive, upward direction.

Adapted from: “Opiods: Addiction vs. Dependence.” Karen Richards, 2008.