Guide to all types of addiction
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If you think you're dealing with addiction of any kind, including drugs, alcohol, smoking, gambling, food, social media and lots more, we have advice to support you in our guide.
What's the difference between addiction and dependence?
When it comes to substance use, like drinking alcohol, using drugs, or taking prescription medication, people often use the words “addiction” and “dependence” interchangeably. But they’re not the same thing. There's a key difference between being addicted to something and being dependent on it.
Tolerance often comes with dependence. It means you need more and more of a drug or substance to get the same effect you used to get with a smaller amount or dose when you first started.
What prescription drugs can I become addicted to?
People often talk about the dangers of addiction to nicotine and alcohol, or to illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine and amphetamines. But you can become addicted to or dependent on prescription medication too.
Here are some common examples:
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Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are a group of medicines used to treat anxiety, panic disorders and sleep problems. Examples are diazepam and lorazepam.
Benzodiazepine addiction often starts when people use these without medical advice (self-medicate). Over time, your body builds a tolerance, and you might not even notice addiction setting in. Benzodiazepines should only be used short-term and always as prescribed by your doctor.
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Opioids
Opioids are prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain. Examples include morphine or codeine.
They can be highly addictive, especially if used for too long. Generally they should not be used as pain relief by doctors because the risk of addiction and dependency is too high. If you're prescribed opioids, you should always follow your doctor's advice on how much to take and when to stop.
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Sleeping pills
Sleeping pills are medications that help you fall asleep and stay asleep. This includes benzodiazepines, but also what's known as 'Z-drugs' like zolpidem and zopiclone.
Abusing sleeping pills is dangerous and long-term use can lead to addiction. You might get addicted if you take them for fun, to cope with stress, or if you start using your prescribed pills more often than recommended. You should always follow your doctor’s advice.
The signs and symptoms of a drug addiction
If you have become addicted to a drug, you may find that you:
- have an uncontrollable desire or craving to take the drug when the last dose ‘wears off’
- find that taking the substance or repeating the action gives you a reward (e.g. a feeling of wellbeing, often referred to as ‘a high’)
- find it difficult to stop taking the drug, even if you know it’s affecting your health, finances or relationships
- need more and more of the drug to get the same effects as time goes on (you develop a tolerance to the drug)
- prioritise taking the drug over other things in your life like friends and family, school and exams, socialising or hobbies that you used to enjoy
- experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the drug (whether you reduce the amount of the drug or stop taking it altogether)
Antipsychotics and antidepressants
Examples of antipsychotics include quetiapine and olanzapine. Examples of antidepressants include fluoxetine, amitriptyline, venlafaxine and paroxetine.
A lot of people worry about getting addicted to these medications, especially when they're told that they shouldn’t stop taking their medication suddenly. But antidepressants and antipsychotics aren't thought to be addictive. You don't get cravings for them.
Instead, the reason you shouldn't stop taking them suddenly is because this can cause uncomfortable withdrawal effects. The symptoms of your illness could also come back too soon.
But you can stop taking them safely with advice from your doctor or pharmacist. They'll probably advise you to do this gradually over six weeks or more, which gives your brain time to adjust.
More advice on medication
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