A social drink is one that does not lead to health complications or to harmful behavioural problems for the drinker and other people. A person who consumes a drink socially does not experience any negative consequences as a result of consumption.

What is abuse?

 

The abusive use of a substance is use that causes negative consequences for the user or others. These consequences can be immediate or delayed. Abuse is said to occur when the use brings harm to the body and to the mind, and/or increases the user's risk of contracting certain diseases and even of early death.

 

Use is also thought to be abusive if there are any negative economic, psychological or social consequences such as interferring with interpersonal relationships, employment, or the physical health and safety of others.

What is dependence?

 

Whether sudden or progressive according to the substance, dependence means needing one or more substances to avoid physical or psychological suffering.

A person is dependent when his or her daily life is generally or exclusively geared to finding and consuming the substance.

There are two types of dependence: physical or psychological; they may or may not be associated.

Initially, general symptoms of dependence include:

• an irresistible urge to consume the substance
• increasing stress or anxiety before taking the substance
• relief while taking the substance
• the feeling of losing control while taking the substance.

Psychological dependence

 

Also called psychic dependence, it implies that stopping or reducing the drug’s consumption produces psychological symptoms. The user is emotionally and mentally preoccupied with an intense and persistent craving to take the drug again.

The deprivation of a drug brings a sensation of ill-being or distress that can lead to depression. Once a person stops consuming a drug, he or she may require a certain period of time to adapt to a substance-free life. The person’s habits are upset; there is a void and the recurring discomfort that the drug used to dissipate. There may be relapses, which are part of the long process that will eventually bring a life free of troublesome consumption.

Physical dependence

 

Some products lead to a physical dependence, whereby the user’s body has adapted to the continuous presence of the substance. When the drug’s concentration falls below a certain level, the body craves it. The user will notice symptoms associated with this deprivation known as withdrawal symptoms.

The deprivation of substances like opiates, tobacco, alcohol and some psychoactive drugs leads to physical discomfort that varies with the type of substance: pain from opiates, trembling and convulsions from alcohol, barbiturates and benzodiazepine-type drugs.

These symptoms can be combined with behavioural problems such as anxiety, distress, irritability, agitation or others.

When someone stops using a drug, at once or even progressively, this is called withdrawal.

Copied with permission from the Tox Québec website: www.toxquebec.com.