What is an addiction?

What is an addiction?

Addiction is defined as an inability to stop using a substance or engaging in a behaviour even though it is causing psychological and physical harm. Addiction is most commonly associated with drugs (including medications) alcohol, gambling and smoking, but it's possible to be addicted to just about anything, including  food, work, the internet and shopping. 

Many people start using drugs as a way of eliciting pleasure or reward, whilst others start using drugs as a  result of trauma. However, addiction can take over and reduce self-control, sometimes it happens very quickly.  

Addiction is a common problem, but you are not alone

‘Addiction is not a choice that anybody makes; it is not a moral failure. What it actually is: a response to human suffering.’ 


The understanding of addiction is complex, and various factors can interact in unique ways for different individuals. Experts have many perspectives on the causes of addiction although most consider a combination of environmental, psychological and biological factors whilst others add in a spiritual dimension. Key factors influencing the development of addiction include:       
Early Childhood Trauma: Traumatic experiences, neglect, or adverse events during crucial brain development periods significantly increase addiction vulnerability. This includes physical or emotional abuse, parental neglect, or growing up in a dysfunctional family.
Coping Mechanisms: People often resort to substances or addictive behaviours to cope with emotional pain, stress, and trauma, temporarily easing distress or numbing painful memories.
Brain Development: Early childhood experiences shape the developing brain, affecting stress and emotion regulation. Adversity can alter brain circuits, increasing susceptibility to addiction.
Connection and Belonging: Lack of healthy connections or relationship disruptions in childhood can lead individuals to seek solace in substances or addictive behaviours as substitutes for missing emotional support.
Social and Cultural Factors: Societal stressors, economic disparities, and cultural attitudes can contribute to the prevalence of addictive behaviours.
Psychological Factors: Personality traits, mental health conditions, and coping mechanisms influence addiction risk. For instance, individuals with mental health disorders like depression or anxiety may self-medicate with substances.
Genetics: Some individuals have a genetic predisposition to addiction, with certain genes influencing how the brain responds to substances or rewarding stimuli.
Brain Chemistry and Structure: Substances like drugs alter the brain's reward system by mimicking natural neurotransmitters or excessively stimulating their release, creating pleasure or euphoria. Over time, these changes can lead to dependence on the substance.

  • Seeking the substance or behaviour regularly with a sense of urgency
  • Creating secrecy, lying and hiding their use or behaviour from loved ones
  • Isolating more and socialising less, abandoning commitments or ignoring relationships
  • Emotional changes such mood swings, anxiety, low mood and lower tolerance to stress
  • A change in the personality including a lack of interest in hobbies or activities that used to be important 
  • Increase in impulsivity, engaging in dangerous and risky behaviours
  • Physical dependency and withdrawal symptoms
  • Difficulty maintaining jobs or other responsibilities
  • A decline in physical health and mental health
  • Loss of control, desire to stop but unable to

The brain plays a central role in addiction, and understanding its effects on the brain can help us understand the nature of addiction.  

When a person consumes some substances, the brain's reward system is activated. This system involves several brain regions, primarily the dopamine pathway. Addictive substances trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter which are chemical messengers that transmit signals between nerve cells in the brain throughout the body, influencing various physiological and psychological functions. Dopamine produces feelings of pleasure and makes us want to do it again. Dopamine is released in response to natural rewards like food or social interaction, but addictive substances often release much bigger levels of dopamine.  

With repeated substance use the brain adapts to the excessive dopamine levels by reducing the number of dopamine receptors. In other words, our brain actually decreases dopamine production when repeatedly use drugs or alcohol. This leads to a smaller response to the substance, which creates tolerance. Tolerance drives individuals to increase their use of the same or other substances to achieve the level of pleasure they experienced before. This escalation can lead to dependence, where the brain becomes reliant on the substance to function normally. Some people can become dependent on the substance because the effects of withdrawal on the body feel unbearable. 

Additionally, addiction involves changes in other brain regions involved in decision-making, impulse control, and self-regulation. These changes can impair judgment, decision-making, and the ability to resist cravings, making it challenging for individuals to quit despite ive consequences.

 

 

Connection is increasingly viewed as central to recovery from problematic substance use. Addiction itself often occurs in a context of, and exacerbates, social exclusion and marginalisation. Cohesive support networks and healthy childhood attachments have been shown to protect against addiction risk and connection-focused treatments like 12-step programs and therapeutic communities effectively reduce substance use. Early maternal-child bonding is linked to lower addiction risk, while its absence and Adverse Childhood Experiences predict higher risk.