Many who use them as a part of their recovery plan consider the 12 steps to be a guide for living. The definition of this term is somewhat debated. At its core, abstinence means refraining from doing something such as using alcohol or other drugs. There is also debate about whether abstinence is the best response to problems which have resulted from substance abuse. Addiction Definitions of addiction abound and clinical guidelines are revised from time to time.
People often use the terms addicted and dependent interchangeably.
Physical dependence is generally associated with an increased tolerance, where more of the drug must be used to achieve a particular effect, and with the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms when the use is stopped. Not all drugs produce physical dependence and degrees of tolerance and severity of withdrawal effects can vary according to the drug and the person using it. Psychological dependence can be thought of as the repetitive use of a substance which is motivated by things other than tolerance or physical withdrawal. It is theoretically possible to become psychologically dependent on any substance, or even on a person or experience. It is noteworthy that the psychological aspects of repetitive behaviors seems to be more difficult to address than are the physical ones.