Dsm5:
Taking the substance in larger amounts or for longer than you’re meant to
Wanting to cut down or stop using the substance but not managing to
Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from use of the substance
Cravings and urges to use the substance
Not managing to do what you should at work, home, or school because of substance use
Continuing to use, even when it causes problems in relationships
Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of substance use
Using substances again and again, even when it puts you in danger
Continuing to use, even when you know you have a physical or psychological problem that could have been caused or made worse by the substance
Needing more of the substance to get the effect you want (tolerance)
Development of withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance
Note that the dsm5 categorizations only needs a couple of those for it to count as a mild substance use disorder. A daily habit you can’t stop, cravings/urges, and a history of familial problems made worse by it, and withdrawal symptoms are more than enough to count without regard to the amount. I’m addicted to caffeine as are most adults I know. Hell some people can fit this definition with junk food and that counts and is valid.
That’s not how addiction works. Firstly, addiction is not a defined term in the medical or psychological fields so the conversation is kind of pointless. Secondly, amount has nothing to do with it. Lots of people have a “nightcap to help them sleep” every night. That is dependence and problematic or colloquially, addiction even if it’s only one drink.
That is in fact how addiction works. If you don’t trigger any effects then you do not develop the addictive response. Quantity is absolutely a factor to some degree and a single drink for most adults will not trigger any euphoric effects.
OK and what about for the people who one drink does trigger an effect?
a single drink for most adults
Again, what about for the people who it does? You’re being quite absolute here. What I’m saying is you cannot use amount alone to determine whether or not it’s problematic. You said it yourself, it’s a factor. You originally used it as a determinant.
So no, that is not in fact how addiction works. I’ve spent the last 10 years studying psychology and I’m a PhD student in the field now.
I have a drink after work most days and have done so for years. It helps me unwind and gets my stress level down to where I can actually relax in the hour or two of free time I have before bed, but I wouldn’t say I’m addicted. If I have places to be or things to do or just don’t drink one or more days it’s not like I’m craving it.
This is me. Maybe 3 days a week, I’ll enjoy a drink (sometimes two if I’m pouring, say, a lighter gin & tonic) before bed. I can stop drinking at any time. And I regularly do, during one of my diet cycles or after getting back from vacation when I wanna take a break from alcohol.
You clearly have no history of addiction of you think a single drink a day is addiction.
The definition of addiction is about a persistent and intense urge. The amount necessary to quench that urge is irrelevant.
It’s not the same level of addiction as someone who has a handle a day but a small addiction is still an addiction by definition.
Some addictions are just psychological e.g. weed, but things like coffee, nicotine, and alcohol also have physical effects upon quitting.
That’s a non-scientific definition for a medical condition.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addiction
Dsm5: Taking the substance in larger amounts or for longer than you’re meant to
Wanting to cut down or stop using the substance but not managing to
Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from use of the substance
Cravings and urges to use the substance
Not managing to do what you should at work, home, or school because of substance use
Continuing to use, even when it causes problems in relationships
Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of substance use
Using substances again and again, even when it puts you in danger
Continuing to use, even when you know you have a physical or psychological problem that could have been caused or made worse by the substance
Needing more of the substance to get the effect you want (tolerance)
Development of withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance
Note that the dsm5 categorizations only needs a couple of those for it to count as a mild substance use disorder. A daily habit you can’t stop, cravings/urges, and a history of familial problems made worse by it, and withdrawal symptoms are more than enough to count without regard to the amount. I’m addicted to caffeine as are most adults I know. Hell some people can fit this definition with junk food and that counts and is valid.
That’s not how addiction works. Firstly, addiction is not a defined term in the medical or psychological fields so the conversation is kind of pointless. Secondly, amount has nothing to do with it. Lots of people have a “nightcap to help them sleep” every night. That is dependence and problematic or colloquially, addiction even if it’s only one drink.
That is in fact how addiction works. If you don’t trigger any effects then you do not develop the addictive response. Quantity is absolutely a factor to some degree and a single drink for most adults will not trigger any euphoric effects.
OK and what about for the people who one drink does trigger an effect?
Again, what about for the people who it does? You’re being quite absolute here. What I’m saying is you cannot use amount alone to determine whether or not it’s problematic. You said it yourself, it’s a factor. You originally used it as a determinant.
So no, that is not in fact how addiction works. I’ve spent the last 10 years studying psychology and I’m a PhD student in the field now.
I have a drink after work most days and have done so for years. It helps me unwind and gets my stress level down to where I can actually relax in the hour or two of free time I have before bed, but I wouldn’t say I’m addicted. If I have places to be or things to do or just don’t drink one or more days it’s not like I’m craving it.
This is me. Maybe 3 days a week, I’ll enjoy a drink (sometimes two if I’m pouring, say, a lighter gin & tonic) before bed. I can stop drinking at any time. And I regularly do, during one of my diet cycles or after getting back from vacation when I wanna take a break from alcohol.