Addiction is never something that should be taken lightly; as such, it is important to have the highest possible understanding so that one can avoid succumbing to the disease. For example, is everyone aware of the risk factors of drug addiction? Are their protective factors? What is the difference between drug use and drug addiction? Then, take into consideration other substances to which people commonly become addicted. Alcohol, for instance; what are safe levels of alcohol intake for men and women? Does it vary? Finally, how can primary care providers use this information for patient encounters? Although there is quite literally a seemingly endless amount of information on the subject, for common everyday repetitions, these particular answers will suffice as a starting point when educating the average patient on the topic of addiction.

In the case of drug addiction, typical risk factors include “being male,” “family history of addiction,” “having another psychological problem,” “peer pressure,” “lack of family involvement,” anxiety, depression, or loneliness,” and participating in “highly addictive drugs,” among other components, (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009). Conversely, there are going to be protective factors against addiction such as, social “support” and “integration,” “positive life events,” “optimism,” and “situational control,” (“Scientific Facts on Psychoactive Drugs,” 2010).

Now there is a difference between drug use and addiction. Simply using a drug, if the act itself can ever be categorized as simple, is going to be defined as an occasional using, most likely in a social setting, still the desire can be there but uncontrollable need is absent. Addiction, on the other hand, is just that, an uncontrollable, out of hand, need that pushes all else from the mind other than pursuit and gratification.

Alcohol is a common substance that is abused, and can lead to addiction. “The recommended safe intake for men is around 3 units of alcohol a day. That is 21 units per week,” (Kennard, 2006.) Naturally, as women are generally smaller, and physiologically different, they are recommended fewer units to compensate.

As began within the introduction, as a primary care provider, it is the physicians responsibility to ensure that patients are well informed, or at the very least, situated with ample access to the information required. While there are going to be many ways to go about this, the main objective is the same, make sure that a common understanding on the risks is achieved.