Alcohol and Drug Dependence

Being dependent on alcohol or drugs means that you have a physical or emotional dependence on the substance. When you are dependent on a substance:

• You are not able to stop using the substance even if you try.
• You may feel that you should cut down, but you continue to use the substance even though it causes problems in your life.
• You may have physical signs of dependence. These are different depending on the substance, but they can include problems like:
  • Blackouts, which cause you to not remember what happened.
  • Stomach problems.
  • Repeated infections.
  • Sleep problems.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Less interest in sex.