Opioid dependence is a medical diagnosis characterized by an individual's inability to stop using opioids (morphine, heroin, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, etc.) even when objectively it is in his or her best interest to do so.
Opioid dependence is a medical diagnosis characterized by an individual being physically and/or mentally dependent on opioid medication Richards, Karen. Many confuse this with addiction, or the inability to stop using opioids (morphine, heroin, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, etc.) even when objectively it is in his or her best interest to do so.