DEFINITION: drug dependency

	DEFINITION & TERMINOLOGY
drug dependency
related: chemical substance dependency substance dependency drug addiction chemical substance dependency not to be confused with: drug misuse drug use drug abuse drug dependency is the reliance on a single psycho-active drug, regimen, or chemical substance(s) to avert the uncomfortable psychological and sometimes physiological side effects associated with discontinuation once tolerance develops. It is an intermediate stage that follows repeated drug abuse and is caused primarily by lack of proper administration education and the inability to obtain adequate treatment from physicians with restrictive medical training.	Drug Dependency always involves overdosing on drugs which have psycho-active side effects. The pleasure center of the hypothalamus gland can no longer experience comfort and the individual is compelled to repeat the abuse, often haphazardly. It is often dangerous for someone who is drug dependent to cease drug administration. However, continued abuse also imposes a threat. In order for someone to become drug dependent, a history of drug abuse or prolonged period of drug use without switching between medications is essential. For example, if someone has a "sweet tooth" and craves sugar, it could be alternated with a sugar substitute to prevent diabetes.
drug dependency is often incorrectly classified as an addiction. Addiction is purely psychological and sociological. Dependency may be psychological but there is a physiological component involved that is critical to consider. When a drug dependent person stops using drugs, they inevitably increase the probability of physical and psychological illness. It is especially harmful when a recovering drug dependent individual returns to using the same drug, because the rate of tolerance for various organs of the body differs. Recovery needs to involve replenishing the brain using cognitive enhancing drugs, nootropics that stimulate the brain's dopamine and serotonin. Without this, there can never be full recovery, however, the American Medical Association (AMA) and US medical bodies believe that the administration of nootropics will only cause the drug dependent individual to return to using the drug. This is less likely to happen if a substitute for the drug is provided. Methadone, for example, is usually given to those dependent on heroin. However, methadone is also likely to result in dependency. Sometimes the substitute may be a physical activity or exercise. For the hardcore drug dependent, who generally tend to be over 40, this might not be a viable option. Cigarette smokers as old as 90 have terminated their habits with frequently deadly results since the body cannot adjust to dramatic changes. This is not well understood because, until recently, there have been few geriatric studies particularly with octogenarians.	PATIENT (SELF) The most common form of drug dependency is addiction or psychological dependency. It often results in young adults and teenagers and it is a societal flaw. Movies, television, radio, Internet, and advertising create a climate of permissiveness and lay the foundation for drug abuse. Friends are often the ones who compel the curious and once abuse results, a pattern becomes established, often whether or not the patient really likes the drug. Cigarettes, for example, are often rejected by the smoker's body. To "fit in with the crowd" a youth will tolerate his or her displeasure until it becomes pleasurable. Since cigarettes are "dosed" (one cigarette is equal to the standard maximum dose) it is the frequency of use that causes dependency. There are people who smoke one or two cigarettes a week who never develop a dependency. Some can even smoke one or two cigarettes per day and not become dependent upon them. It's because the majority smoke more than 5 cigarettes a day that they develop a physiological as well as a psychological propensity to use them often. PARENT OR GUARDIAN It is very common for a parent's dependency to influence children. Parents who have used drugs before pregnancy, are likely to produce a child who will crave drugs at an early age.	TREATMENTS Faith-based treatment does not work for anyone but martyrs. Sooner or later, the craving will outweigh an individual's dedication. The stronger the dedication, the more dangerous this approach can present. Quite often faith-based treatment results in serious relapses that could last for only a few minutes or days, but often carry on for weeks, months, and years. There are many who are convinced that this is not a valid treatment. It is painful and leads to self-degradation, crime, family dishonor, and fear of sobriety. The idea behind faith-based treatments like the 12-step program is to have an individual keep reliving the dependency which is like wearing a chastity belt and forcing one to look at it everyday and dwell on it as the punishment for sexual behavior. Most of those who have been down this road have suffered severely. There are few chemical-based treatments. Called vaccines, these treatments are new. Their long-term side effects are virtually unknown. They can be lethal and more dangerous than the drugs. It is a criminal offense for a physician to administer such vaccines without the knowledge of the patient. In the US, this is often overlooked and today we see students who are almost zombies after a course of treatment.
	. PHYSICIANS The WOD is brutal on physicians who prescribe medication to patients, even though that it is their job. Physicians must be chosen carefully because there are many hostile physicians practicing medicine today.