Addiction, Physical Dependence and Tolerance to Pain Medication. What’s the Difference?
In response to the current opioid crisis, many patients and their loved ones are confused by the many terms associated with drug use — even if they were prescribed pain medications for legitimate reasons. Addiction, physical dependence, and tolerance are three such terms that are thrown around, and while there is some overlap, they do not all indicate substance use disorder. Here’s how these terms differ, as well as what to do next if you think pain medication has become an issue in your life.
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