Week3 DQ Team Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Week3 DQ Team - Essay Example The clear distinction between the two terms can be understood on the basis of their definitions. A habit, or habituation, is â€Å"becoming accustomed to any behavior or condition, including psychoactive substance use.† In contrast, an addiction is defined as â€Å"Repeated use of a psychoactive substance, to the extent that the user is periodically or chronically intoxicated, shows a compulsion to take the preferred substance, has great difficulty in voluntarily ceasing or modifying substance use, and exhibits determination to obtain psychoactive substance by almost any means† (WHO Lexicon, 2008). Based on the above, we can clearly distinguish between habituation and addiction. Habituation differs from addiction mainly in the absence of physical and psychological dependence, as a desire rather than a compulsion for the substance and the absence of a tendency to progressively increase the dose. A habit is a pattern of behavior which tends to be repetitive and is executed by conscious choice. It is regular, tends to result in beneficial outcomes and usually increases efficiency. On the other hand, an addiction dominates one’s life to the exclusion of all other activities and responsibilities and has a detrimental effect on the individual and society. Withdrawal symptoms characterize an addict’s efforts to stop usage of the substance. Habits and addictions basically differ in the degree of dependence. Unlike habits, addictions include compulsion, craving, increased tolerance for the substance and withdrawal symptoms. A nightcap, which becomes the customary pre-requ isite for a good night’s sleep, is a habit. The need for increasing quantities of alcohol to feel good is an addiction. An allergy is defined as â€Å"abnormal sensitivity to a substance which is normally tolerated and generally considered harmless† (AAAAI Website). The immune system is the body’s defense mechanism against foreign bodies, or antigens, which are protein molecules