3 ms·

Physical dependence results in withdrawal symptoms that are physical: headaches with caffeine, shakes (and much, much worse) with alcohol. Mental/emotional dep

Physical dependence results in withdrawal symptoms that are physical: headaches with caffeine, shakes (and much, much worse) with alcohol. Mental/emotional dependence results in withdrawal symptoms like depression and anxiety. One could argue that mental/emotional withdrawal is just as physical (as it results from imbalances in neurotransmitters) as physical withdrawal. One could also argue that the only serious withdrawal symptoms out there are from alcohol - arguably one of the only drugs whose withdrawal symptoms you can die from.

biohacker42 17y ago
One could also argue that the only serious withdrawal symptoms out there are from alcohol - arguably one of the only drugs whose withdrawal symptoms you can die from. Citation?
- warfangle 17y ago
  I was a little off - sedative-hyptnotics like benzos and barbiturates can also kill you through withdrawal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens "Withdrawal from sedative-hypnotics other than alcohol, such as benzodiazepines or barbiturates can also result in seizures, delirium tremens and death if not properly managed. Withdrawal from other drugs which are not sedative-hypnotics such as opiods, marijuana, cocaine etc do not have major medical complications and withdrawal is therefore not life threatening." Galanter, Marc; Kleber, Herbert D. (1 July 2008). The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Substance Abuse Treatment (4th ed.). United States of America: American Psychiatric Publishing Inc. p. 58. ISBN 978-1585622764. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6wdJgejlQzYC http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6wdJgejlQzYC.
- a-priori 17y ago
  Alcohol withdrawal can produce a condition known as delirium tremens, which can cause seizures that lapse into death. Withdrawal from most drugs, while certainly unpleasant (in the case of heroin, for example), is not directly fatal. But alcohol is not the only drug whose withdrawal syndrome can kill you. Another exception is the benzodiazepines, which are prescribed for anxiety or as sleep aids. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine_withdrawal_syndrome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine_withdrawal_syndr...

biohacker42 17y ago

One could also argue that the only serious withdrawal symptoms out there are from alcohol - arguably one of the only drugs whose withdrawal symptoms you can die from. Citation?

warfangle 17y ago
I was a little off - sedative-hyptnotics like benzos and barbiturates can also kill you through withdrawal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens "Withdrawal from sedative-hypnotics other than alcohol, such as benzodiazepines or barbiturates can also result in seizures, delirium tremens and death if not properly managed. Withdrawal from other drugs which are not sedative-hypnotics such as opiods, marijuana, cocaine etc do not have major medical complications and withdrawal is therefore not life threatening." Galanter, Marc; Kleber, Herbert D. (1 July 2008). The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Substance Abuse Treatment (4th ed.). United States of America: American Psychiatric Publishing Inc. p. 58. ISBN 978-1585622764. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6wdJgejlQzYC http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6wdJgejlQzYC.
a-priori 17y ago
Alcohol withdrawal can produce a condition known as delirium tremens, which can cause seizures that lapse into death. Withdrawal from most drugs, while certainly unpleasant (in the case of heroin, for example), is not directly fatal. But alcohol is not the only drug whose withdrawal syndrome can kill you. Another exception is the benzodiazepines, which are prescribed for anxiety or as sleep aids. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine_withdrawal_syndrome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine_withdrawal_syndr...