The term “addiction” can mean many things to many people. In this article, we define addiction as thus:
Addiction is the repeated involvement with a substance or activity, despite the substantial harm it now causes because that involvement was (and may continue to be) pleasurable and/or valuable.
Counselors should not confuse this definition of addiction with other related terms. Although similar, this definition of addiction should not be confused with the diagnostic criteria for a category of disorders known as Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders (APA, 2013).
There are four key parts to this definition of addiction:
- Addiction includes both substances and activities (such as sex and gambling).
- Addiction leads to substantial harm.
- Addiction is repeated involvement despite substantial harm.
- Addiction continues because it was, or is, pleasurable and/or valuable.
Now let’s examine each part of this definition of addiction in greater detail.
The definition of Addiction includes both substances and activities
People (Clients) may become addicted to both substances and activities. Substance addiction includes any substances that are taken into the body. This may include street drugs, nicotine; and some prescription medications when used improperly. An activity addiction includes activities such as gambling, sex, the internet, pornography, and shopping. Sometimes people call these “process addictions.” Notice that it is quite possible to live a full and satisfying life without using any of these substances, or activities. However, some substances and activities are essential to our very survival and even these things can become addictions. For instance, obese people often describe food as a type of addictive substance but clearly, no one can live without food. Other people describe romantic relationships with a dependency so deep and damaging that their relationship could represent an addictive activity.
Many people engage with these substances and activities at various times in their lives. Most do not develop any significant problems or difficulties. This leads to the question, “At what point does an activity or substance use become an addiction? The rest of our definition helps to answer, “Where’s the line between ‘behaving badly’ and addiction?”
The definition of Addiction includes substantial harm.
The most commonly agreed upon part of any definition of addiction is that it leads to substantial harm. Addiction harms not only the person with the addiction but also everyone around them. When distinguishing between “bad behavior” and addiction, the primary consideration is: Has the behavior caused substantial harm? In other words, what are the negative consequences of that behavior?
If a person buys two beers at a bar every week, even expensive beer, it won’t create a financial disaster. The person might not be able to afford to go out to lunch with his/her co-workers. It’s just a choice he is willing to make. On the other hand, if a person buys 20 beers a night, every night, that creates a substantial financial burden. He/she might not even be able to afford groceries, much less lunch with his/her co-workers.
Similarly, depending on someone’s values, occasionally looking at porn probably doesn’t cause substantial harm to most people. But if someone begins to prefer porn over human contact or cannot enjoy sex without porn, and starts to spend half their income on purchasing porn, they start to meet the criteria for substantial harm.
One way to understand “substantial harm” is to consider the harmful consequences of the activity or substance use. These consequences cost. Some costs are obvious. They arise directly from the substance or activity itself. There are also other, less obvious costs. These occur because of the preoccupation with the addiction. Direct costs may be unique to the specific substance or activity itself. Snorting enough cocaine will damage the nose. Drinking enough alcohol will damage the digestive system. Watching porn all day will make one lose interest in real sexual partners.
Shooting up enough heroines will damage the veins. Gambling a lot will lose a great deal of money. Some direct costs universally apply to most addictions: declining health, damage to interpersonal relationships, and diminishing financial resources. The less obvious, indirect costs arise solely from the preoccupation with addiction. Eventually, an addiction becomes so central in a person’s life that it consumes all their time, and energy, and preoccupies their thoughts.
Sometimes individuals affected by addiction do not readily see that their involvement with a substance or activity has resulted in substantial harm. Therefore, they may “deny” they have addiction. Of course, this “denial” makes perfect sense because substantial harm is a defining characteristic of addiction. Without it, there is no addiction. However, to other people, these individuals seem indifferent to the harm their addiction causes. In response to this apparent lack of concern, these individuals are often told they are “in denial.” This statement implies a form of dishonesty.
We have never found accusations of this sort to be helpful. A more useful approach is to recognize many individuals are simply unaware of the total costs associated with their addiction. This recognition leads to a non-judgmental approach that encourages an honest and accurate appraisal of these costs. This helps people recognize the substantial harm caused by remaining involved with an addictive substance or activity.
The definition of Addiction includes repeated involvement despite substantial harm.
People could experience significant negative consequences (“substantial harm”) from substance use or activity but the behavior is not labeled as an addiction unless it happens regularly. For instance, the first time someone gets drunk they might have a serious car accident. We would probably not label the person an alcoholic, even though “substantial harm” occurred. Ordinarily, once the costs of an enjoyable behavior pile up, people will begin to naturally restrict or quit that behavior. This is another fact that distinguishes addictive behavior, from merely “bad behavior.” Many people temporarily indulge in pleasurable activities that we might term “bad behavior.” These may include drinking, drugging, indiscriminate sex, gambling, excessive consumption of entertainment, and overeating.
All addictions begin in this rather normal realm of the pursuit of pleasure. The problems of addiction do not develop because of these pleasurable activities. Addiction becomes evident when someone seems to be unable to limit or stop these pleasurable activities. They seemingly demonstrate a “loss of control.” Thus, the problem of addiction is not that someone enjoys these pleasures.
The problem of addiction is that they cannot seem to stop. Imaginethatsomeonegoesgamblingforthefirsttime. Win or lose, it’s fun. Sometimes it’s very fun. Not too much money gets spent. The experience is affordable, relative to that person’s income. What’s the harm in that? Now imagine that same person going to a casino again, planning to spend 5,000 Naira, just as he did the first time. However, this time he keeps getting credit card cash advances for much more than he can afford. By the end of the evening, he blew their entire paycheck. He may feel a lot of remorse and regret about what happened. He would not wish to repeat that experience, and thankfully most people do not. However, he who develops addiction will repeat that experience and return to the casino, spending more than he can afford. This occurs despite the commitments to himself or others to “never do that again.”
The definition of Addiction includes pleasure and/or value.
Pleasure and/or value. People might begin to wonder why they began in the first place. Why would someone want to do something that brings about harm? The answer is deceivingly simple: because at first, it was pleasurable, or at least valuable. The addicted person (clients) might find it “valuable” because it reduces anxiety. Maybe it provided a temporary escape from dismal circumstances or sheer boredom. Perhaps it helped to briefly relieve depression. People are genetically predisposed to repeat things that are rewarding or bring about pleasure as this ensures our very survival. Without this genetic predisposition people would not eat or reproduce.
Therefore, only individuals with prior positive experiences with a substance or activity are vulnerable to developing an addiction. If someone smokes pot a few times, and every time it makes the person highly anxious and paranoid, the person would probably not keep smoking. If someone dislikes the taste of alcohol and how it makes them feel, will they continue to drink? So, addiction begins because “it” was once pleasurable, rewarding, or valuable.
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