It depends on how you use them. If you need a reference for Everything or only draw from photos, then yes, it is possible to become dependent. (I know, because it's something that happened to me when I first started) But really, it can be difficult to get to that point. Depending on your goals, you definitely want to draw from imagination often, but don't be scared to use references; especially when working on a piece you want to finish.
If you're really concerned this might be a problem, then you can do some photo studies, then go back and draw them from memory or use what you learned while you sketch from imagination. There's also the option of using a ref to help you sketch out a rough outline and going solo from there, or using a ref after the initial sketch to help correct mistakes.
