It could be because they're in different classes, Brent thinks, but he's also noticed some unusual changes in Jason. His grades have slipped, he has extreme mood swings, and he doesn't even talk to his old friends anymore. Brent wonders if maybe Jason has been doing drugs. Defining an addiction is tricky, and knowing how to handle one is even harder - keep reading to find out what you can do if you think you or a friend has a drug or alcohol addiction. Telling the difference between abuse and addiction is hard.
Addiction begins as abuse , or usage of a substance like marijuana or cocaine.
You can abuse a drug without having an addiction. For example, just because Sara smoked weed a few times doesn't mean that she has an addiction, but it does mean that she's abusing a drug - and that could lead to an addiction. Addiction means having no control over whether to use a drug. A person who's addicted to cocaine has grown so used to the drug that he has to have it. Addiction can be physical, psychological, or both.