Addiction on any substance is seen as a physical and psychological dependence on substances which include the most common of substances: nicotine from tobacco, alcohol, caffeine and other drugs like cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. These substances can cross the blood/brain barriers and once it is taken in or enters the body, it can temporarily change the chemical condition of the brain.
Addiction is seen as a continued involvement with a chemical substance or an activity even if the individual knows that there are negative consequences which may arise from it. The only thing that the individual is aware of is the need for pleasure and to enjoy what they are doing. Eventually that need for pleasure and enjoyment will become a need and the individual can feel out of sorts if they do not get the substance which their body is craving.
There are other forms of addiction as well which may not even include substances – gambling, sex, food, computers, internet, work, exercise, and pornography, watching TV, spiritual obsession, shopping and self-injury.
Primarily, addiction is a chronic disease which can reward the brain. Anything which can disrupt the reward and the process involved to get the reward, the individual may have biological, psychological, social or even spiritual expressions. The individual will seek to all methods and strategies to gain that reward or relief by pursuing the use of the substance or the activity which can lead to the relief.
Usually, addiction is characterized by impaired behaviour which is controlled by the need for the substance or activity, the inability to control the craving or to resist it, and the denial that the lack of substance or activity can affect their interpersonal relationships and their behaviour.
Addiction is considered a disease, a chronic one as opposed to a sudden one. Addiction develops through time and can insidiously creep in without the individual realizing that it has set its claws firmly and moving it could be cause for a lot of difficulties.
There are recognized treatments against the different forms of addiction and without the treatment can cause for a total lack of self control. Addiction to harmful substances like cocaine or methamphetamine can progress to the level where it can cause a disability or even death.
There are three major categories of addiction: addiction to drugs, dependence on drugs and behavioural addiction.
Drug addiction is defined as a chronic or constant relapse of a disorder which is characterized by the persistent need for a specific drug or drugs and behaviour leading to taking in the drug.
Dependence on a substance is when someone continues to use the substance despite knowing the harmful results and effects associated with that substance. The obsessive compulsive behaviour will result to a tolerance to the drug where cessation of the use of the drug could cause withdrawal symptoms to be exhibited and experienced.
Behavioural addiction is when the individual is compelled to do an activity like shopping, sex, eating, gambling, computer use, watching TV and other activities. The addiction is more like a recurring compulsion where the individual can only experience relief if they get involved in the activity they enjoy and eventually crave.