Addiction is the pursuit of happiness in the absence of pleasure (Heilman, 1986).  Are you addicted or abusive in your "use"?  Is your child going through a phase as many teens do or is it dependence/addiction?  How can you know for sure?  Is your spouse, parent, friend or friend's friend abusing alcohol and/or drugs or experimenting?  How can you tell?  The answer follows.

The American Medical Association says that addiction is the 'continued use of a substance despite adverse consequences.'  This means that, if a person has a problem that is considered to be an adverse consequence, this is addiction.  So, if a person has a DUI and continues to drink to intoxication that is probably dependence or addiction.  If they get another DUI and continue to drink, that is definitely addiction.  An abuser drinks for relief usually.  When a problem occurs, they are not getting relief.  They are getting a problem, not relief.  A problem is the opposite of relief.  We need relief from the problem.  Addiction creates problems.  An abuser does not usually want to drink after it causes problems.  An addict/alcoholic will continue to drink and/or use drugs and try to convince you that the problem is non-existant.    That is the difference.  An abuser quits when the substance does not work; an addict/alcoholic continues,  It's that simple.
Love and Peace,
Doc Pete, the imperfect therapist