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Now, back to the question. Dr. John Edwards and Dr. Peter Connor are addiction medicine specialists working at both the Cambridge Clinic and Abbotsford Hospital in Western Australia, and I've had the privilege of spending time with them as part of my medical degree. They both agree that first of all, addiction isn't really a great word because it brings with it a lot of stigma. Putting this aside however, to be diagnosed as addicted you need physical symptoms of tolerance (you require more of the substance to achieve the desired effect) and withdrawal, alongside impaired control, social impairment, and risky behavior. No drug will achieve this combination after just one hit.Read on Motherboard: Heroin, Cocaine, and Weed Are Stronger, Cheaper, and Easier to Get Than They've Ever Been
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Related: Watch our documentary, 'The Hard Lives of Britain's Synthetic Marijuana Addicts'Also, check out our documentary on the rehab industry: Dying for Treatment
It is important to state at this point that being physically dependent on a drug doesn't necessarily make one an addict. People suffering from chronic pain who take high levels of opiates will experience tolerance and withdrawal, but are only considered addicts if their behavior towards the drugs starts to change. This includes behaviors such as stealing extra prescriptions or spending their time trying to obtain money for drugs.
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