What is the Definition of an Addiction?
Addiction is an involvement with an activity or substance in spite of any negative consequences that are associated with them on a continual basis. These additions can include drug, prescription medicine, gambling, nicotine, and alcohol.
At first, these were done just for the pleasure and enjoyment and over time the involvement with the substance or activity was needed to feel normal. These people need the "high" they got from doing any of these things and if they did not get to do these things, then they suffered withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms can include such feelings as irritability, the shakes, sweats, nausea, or anxiety.
Addiction can also be applied to compulsions which are not substance related. This type of addiction can include addition to the computer and internet, over eating, and compulsive shopping.
When a person has an addiction, they will do anything to get the substance or do the activity they are addicted to. This can include stealing money or things to sell, they may become a prostitute, they may become withdrawn, and they may sell everything they own. Whatever it takes to get what they are addicted to, they will do.
Drug addiction is when their choice to either smoke marijuana, shoot up heroin, snort crack, taken away entirely. It is the next step after drug abuse. It is where the person has to have the drug of choice and feel like they cannot survive without it.
Alcohol addiction is the compulsive, uncontrolled consumption of alcohol whether it is beer, hard liquor, or a combination of both. This is one addiction that is defined as a treatable disease. It is also a dependency on alcohol. Some people may not be able to start their day without a drink or a beer, they may even have to have a drink or two while on the job. I
Gambling addiction is just like any other addiction where as they have this urge to gamble, despite the fact that there may be harmful negative consequences attached. This type of addiction may cause the gambler to loose their paycheck, their home, their family, may even put their lives in danger and possibly the lives of their family members if they get involved with a bookie. They will gamble on anything including football games, horse races, and more.
Prescription drug addiction is where a person will go from doctor to doctor with fake complaints in order to get their "fix" from pain pills. They may use fictitious names, they may even attempt to break into a pharmacy to get the prescription drugs they need, and they may even try to steal a pad of blank prescriptions to write their own prescriptions. They not only go from doctor to doctor, but may also go from hospital to hospital. They may even resort to buying pain pills from other people who get them for them if they cannot do it themselves.
As you can see, addiction can be harmful, not only to your body, but to your family, your finances, and your life. Most addictions do require some type of medical intervention in order to stop.