Addiction, Physical Dependence, and Psychological Dependence

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Toxicologist and Pharmacologist.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - WARNING, if you are thin skinned don't read this. This is the first time I've encountered a three-way Pizzen controversy (see: PTSD and the Pizzen Factor)

My recent article engendered what may be the DSM definition which is about fifty words long and to me it is too laborious to memorize or even repeat. I think and suggest that it was put together by $300 an hour psychiatrists to shield their high paying patients of the stigma of being called an ADDICT.

It is much nicer to be referred to as DEPENDENT whether physical or psychological.

Is a tobacco cigarette smoker dependent. Nah! It is possibly worse addicting than heroin. In England, heroin users are dependent on it and doctors can prescribe it. There are thousands of such patients.

Dexedrine (Amphetamine) was first used as a weight control medicine. It produced thousands of what-cha-call-its.

Valium (Diazepam) was the first tranquilizer replacement for the three o'clock martini. It also produced thousands of whatchacallits.

Seconal (Secobarbital) became a very popular sleeping pill. It also produced many of "them".

How many thousands of patients are on many of a variety of anti-psychotic medications. What should we call them?

And what about the millions of heavy alcohol users. What do you call them? I hesitate to include chocoholics.

I'm going to get back to number 5 - Cannabis. The U.S. government estimates 10% of the population uses it. That's about 30 million people. They use it because it alleviates their psychological and physical problems. (A true medicine) When they run out, they only have minimal withdrawal symptoms.

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Got a question or comment for Dr. Leveque?
Email him: Newsroom@Salem-News.com

More information on the history of Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of Phil Leveque about his experiences in WWII.
Order the book by mail by following this link: Dogface Soldier.
If you are a World War II history buff, you don't want to miss it.

Watch for more streaming video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King and Dr. Phil Leveque.

Click on this link for other articles and video segments about PTSD and medical marijuana on Salem-News.com: Dr. Leveque INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES

Salem-News.com Marijuana Coverage

Where and How to Smoke Legal Marijuana without Fear of Arrest in the U.S.

Eulogy of a Great Warrior: Hoss Plourde

The Ripple Effect How Marijuana Laws Are Impacting Society

Audit the Audit

Welcome Home, Tom

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Henry Ruark May 2, 2008 12:05 pm (Pacific time)

To all: Simple clarity here cometh from anyone on Flowmax: THAT is "dependent" !! When body demands meds to continue life function, that is. For others, like "racism", denial may be symptom, too. See Op Ed if analogy fails for you !! AND don't forget your Flomax !!

Clarification May 1, 2008 3:27 pm (Pacific time)

Matt, if you take many medications, and become a habitual user to the point where your body would react if you stopped, you are dependent. That doesn't make you an addict. Look up gabapentin. It is not a opioid. Due to its ability to reduce pain and make me somewhat functional, I am dependent on it. It would take a few days for my body to adapt if I stopped taking it. Also, I know that some anti-depressants have a similar effect and can take long weaning periods to reduce the body's dependence. I don't think that people on anti-depressants are "addicted" in the usual sense of the term. And why the harsh attitude? I shared quotes from Wikipedia and DSM. These aren't my original thoughts.

Clarification May 1, 2008 2:09 pm (Pacific time)

And, Julie, I did not get mad.

Clarification May 1, 2008 2:08 pm (Pacific time)

Julie and Matt, thanks for your heartfelt concerns for my well-being. Do you think that someone dependent on insulin is also an addict?

Julie May 1, 2008 1:54 pm (Pacific time)

The first person to defend an addict is an addict, sorry "Just a Note for Clarification" but you are defensive because this makes you feel bad about yourself, think of this as a wake-up call instead of getting mad. You too can overcome your addictions, have faith.

Matt Johnson May 1, 2008 1:04 pm (Pacific time)

No, that is not the case. This individual is trying to sugar coat names and it isn't working. The government has throw the word "addict" around and clearly established that what Dr. Leveque is exactly right on the money. I think it takes a lot of gall to say that you are not addicted, you are dreaming! You even present yourself here as an addict; so desperate to clarify something that is uncomfortable to you yet still the case. From what I read, Dr. Leveque is an esteemed doctor, and you are some nobody trying to plant false information in people's brains, that is not good. You should be more reasonable in your ability to learn and digest the simple fact that you do not know what you think you know.

Just a Note for Clarification May 1, 2008 12:58 pm (Pacific time)

An addict has certain behaviors that differ from those who are dependent. I have had to take pain pills and have been habituated and am therefore dependent. If I were to stop, I would experience withdrawals. I could stop, and would stop, if the need for pain relief disappeared. The definition of addict refers to drug-seeking, etc. that clearly needs a delineation. I have always been concerned about the potential for abuse. That is what separates a dependent from an addict. Not all people who are dependent are addicted. [Addiction was a term used to describe a devotion, attachment, dedication, inclination, etc. Nowadays, however, the term addiction is used to describe a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences to the individual's health, mental state or social life. Addiction is now narrowly defined as "uncontrolled, compulsive use"; if there is no harm being suffered by, or damage done to, the patient or another party, then clinically it may be considered compulsive, but to the definition of some it is not categorized as "addiction".] As a doctor, you should be more reasonable in your ability to learn and digest the simple fact.

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Addiction, Physical Dependence, and Psychological Dependence

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