Comparison of addiction, abuse, and tolerance: Tolerance refers to the inappropriate use of any type of drug, legal or illegal. You may either use more than the recommended amount of medication, or you substitute a prescription from another person. If you are looking to feel happy, relieve tension, or just ignore reality, you might misuse drugs. However, it is possible to change bad habits or quit completely.
A person who cannot quit is the hallmark of addiction. You should not quit if it is a risk to your health. You should not use drugs if it causes financial, emotional, or other difficulties for you and your loved ones. Even if your goal is to stop using drugs completely, you may find that the urge to obtain and use them takes over every waking hour.
Tolerance and physical dependence are different from addiction. After becoming physically dependent on a drug, it is possible to experience withdrawal symptoms. Tolerance is when a drug's effectiveness decreases over time.
If you are a frequent user of opioids for pain treatment, you may develop a tolerance and possibly become dependent on them. This does not necessarily mean you have a dependency issue. Only a very small number of people will develop an addiction even if they receive opioids under the care of a physician.
Why do some people develop a drug addiction while others do not? No single element can indicate whether a person may develop a drug addiction. A variety of factors affects addiction risk. More risk variables a person possesses, the greater the likelihood that drug use will result in addiction.
Biology. About half of a person's susceptibility to addiction is determined by their inherited DNA. Gender, race, and the existence of other mental problems may also affect drug abuse and addiction risk.
Environment. In addition to family and friends, a person's surroundings also includes economic status and overall quality of life. Peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, early drug exposure, stress, and parental supervision can significantly influence a person's chance of substance misuse and addiction.
Development. A person's susceptibility to addiction is determined by the interaction of genetic and environmental variables with key developmental phases. Although drug use may lead to addiction at any age, the sooner drug use begins, the greater the likelihood that it will advance to addiction. This is especially harmful for adolescents. Because the regions of their brains that regulate decision-making, judgement, and self-control are still growing, adolescents may be more susceptible to engaging in dangerous activities, such as drug use.