I know shooting heroin has made me sick before. Dear Reader, When talking about withdrawal symptoms, and other problems associated with drug use, it is important to distinguish between dependence and addiction . If the drug is no longer supplied, the user suffers from both physical and psychological difficulties. Another symptom of physical dependence is increased tolerance to the drug, wherein the user must consume more and more of the drug in order to achieve the desired effects. Tolerance has both biological and behavioral components.
Psychological dependence is characterized by becoming dependent on the sensations the drug produces.
Without the drug, the person may feel incapable of self-care and emotional stability. During psychological withdrawal, users feel a constant craving of the drug, are easily disturbed, nervous, and, often, depressed. However, addiction is specifically identified as continued, compulsive use of the drug, despite negative physical, emotional, and social consequences. Once addicted, a person is usually fixated on getting and using the drug, and will have trouble staying off when attempting to quit. Trouble controlling how much of the drug is used and denial that the use is problematic are also features of addiction.