If I start taking more than I am prescribed, mixing it with other things to get high, that's addiction. It's also abuse. But people who are dependent are not considered addicts unless they break the rules and start acting all funny.

If you do anything with a drug besides take it as prescribed - that's abuse. Not addiction.

People who are dependent on a drug need it to function, but are aware of the dependency and continue to use it as directed.

People who are addicted can not live without it, and often have other psycho-social aspects that preclude definition as dependency. I might define dependency and addiction as the difference between awareness and denial. It also includes abuse - but abuse in and of itself does not indicate addiction. It might indicate stupidity, but that's another story.

She's also claiming she was 'taught' per the original statement above - which does not even jive with your own defense. Abuse, dependency and addiction are well-understood terms that mean different things - if you look again, you'll see that one is the other 'if I do weird stuff with it.'

I've known a lot of folks who have really pushed the envelope with pain meds and alcohol, for example, when they've been on them. It's stupid, but it isn't addiction. It's abuse. Not the same thing - even by your own defense.

Addiction is not abuse writ large. Dependency is not addiction writ small. Abuse is using a hammer to open jars of pickled beets.

Reacting emotionally, perhaps? It would be within tolerances, considering the subject matter.

But you'll have to allow the accusations are inflammatory, dude. Gimme a break.