Yes. This distinction drives me up a wall. The way I see it, all addictive substances are psychologically addictive[0]. Some are also physically addictive.
Addiction, by definition, is a psychological phenomenon. For recreational drugs, it's the only thing that keeps you using even when the net effect is harmful to your life.
It's really annoying to see people say things like, "It's only psychologically addictive" as if that's somehow less perilous than the alternative, or easier to overcome if you want to stop.
Most alcoholics have a hard time quitting not just because of the DTs (not that I'm dismissing those!), but because it's bloody hard to break that habit! The yearning for a drink is incredibly strong, long after you've detoxed. The physical withdrawal from alcohol can be managed over just a few days. The psychological withdrawal from it is typically a long-term journey with plenty of opportunities for relapse. Same with heroin. Kicking it is no fun, that's for sure. But once you've done your 30 days or whatever, the physical part is over. The real challenge is just beginning.
[0] Okay, I supposed there are addictions that are purely physical. Some blood pressure medications, for example. I ignore these, because "addiction" is probably not the right term for them. "Dependence" better suits therapies that you really do need to continue, or taper when it's time to stop.
I still don’t understand the distinction between “physical” and “psychological”, especially when the thing being manipulated by the drug is the central nervous system.
Surely psychological phenomena are also physical ones, insofar as they are seated in the brain and the rest of the body? Do you have an example of a pure case of “psychological addiction”? The only thing I can think of is the social aspect of consuming the drug. But then, I can think of a great number of activities that, when removed, cause “withdrawal” in the form of longing for the social interaction, none of which fit the common-sense definition of “addiction”.
So I’m left to conclude that this distinction is a false one. For the purposes of things we generally consider to be drugs, the only possible kind of addiction physiological.
Addiction, by definition, is a psychological phenomenon. For recreational drugs, it's the only thing that keeps you using even when the net effect is harmful to your life.
It's really annoying to see people say things like, "It's only psychologically addictive" as if that's somehow less perilous than the alternative, or easier to overcome if you want to stop.
Most alcoholics have a hard time quitting not just because of the DTs (not that I'm dismissing those!), but because it's bloody hard to break that habit! The yearning for a drink is incredibly strong, long after you've detoxed. The physical withdrawal from alcohol can be managed over just a few days. The psychological withdrawal from it is typically a long-term journey with plenty of opportunities for relapse. Same with heroin. Kicking it is no fun, that's for sure. But once you've done your 30 days or whatever, the physical part is over. The real challenge is just beginning.
[0] Okay, I supposed there are addictions that are purely physical. Some blood pressure medications, for example. I ignore these, because "addiction" is probably not the right term for them. "Dependence" better suits therapies that you really do need to continue, or taper when it's time to stop.