Distinguish dependence from addiction in practice and provide one example of each.

• A. Dependence: withdrawal symptoms on cessation (e.g., yawning, irritability); Addiction: compulsive seeking despite harm (e.g., illicit drug use to obtain opioids).
• B. Dependence and addiction are the same.
• C. Addiction is withdrawal.
• D. Dependence has no clinical relevance.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that physical dependence and addiction are different phenomena seen with opioid exposure. Physical dependence means the body has adapted to the drug; if you stop it abruptly or reduce the dose, withdrawal symptoms appear. With opioids this can look like yawning, irritability, anxiety, sweating, muscle aches, and flu-like symptoms—these are signs of withdrawal and reflect a physiological state rather than a moral or behavioral failing. Addiction, by contrast, is a behavioral syndrome characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and use despite harm, driven by cravings and loss of control over intake.

So, an example of dependence is experiencing withdrawal symptoms when stopping opioids after chronic use. An example of addiction is continuing to use opioids obtained illicitly despite serious negative consequences, demonstrating compulsive use and impaired control. Note that dependence can occur with legitimate medical use and does not automatically mean addiction, and they can co-occur but are distinct concepts.