Addiction: The Difficulties With Definitions

It is virtually impossible to find a consistent definition of addiction.

Defining addiction is like trying to catch smoke with your hands. I discovered how hard this was when I went to look up a good, clear, and simple definition to use in a lecture. I found that few people agreed on few things.

That brings us to a major problem with addiction and addiction recovery: there is no singular, clearly definable concept of addiction. There is no single best way to treat it. If I fall on the sidewalk, experience pain in my arm and see a bone sticking out, it is pretty much a certainty that I have a broken arm. I go the the hospital and 99.9 out of 100 doctors would say you have a broken arm, we need to set it and put it in a cast. If you do that it will heal.

In addiction, we can’t agree on what the problem is, never mind consistent treatment. It’s inherited, it’s learned, it’s a choice, you are powerless, it’s physical or psychological…or all of the above. You need to quit, you need to cut down, you can’t quit alone, substitute methadone for heroin.

Are you confused yet? If not allow me to do so by giving you some definitions of addiction I have found:

“Addiction is a primary, chronic, progressive, neurobiological disease, with biological/genetic, psychological, social, and spiritual factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following: impaired control over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and craving.”

• A chronic, relapsing disease characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and abuse and by long-lasting chemical changes in the brain.

• Strong emotional and /or psychological dependence on a substance such as alcohol or drugs that has progressed beyond voluntary control.

• Compulsion or overpowering urge to use a substance, regardless of potential or actual harm.

• An emotional need for pain medication because of the feeling that is received from the medicine.

• (ad•dic•tion) ([schwa]-dik¢sh[schwa]n) 1. the state of being given up to some habit or compulsion. 2. strong physiological and psychological dependence on a drug or other psychoactive substance; see drug a.

• A compulsive physiological craving for a habit-forming substance, addiction is a chronic and progressive disease usually characterized by physiological symptoms upon withdrawal. The term “dependence” is often used synonymously to avoid the pejorative connotations of addiction.

• Implies that a drug dependency has developed to such an extent that it has serious detrimental effects on the user (referred to as an addict). They may be chronically intoxicated, have great difficulty stopping the drug use, and be determined to obtain the drug by almost any means. The term addiction is inextricably linked to society’s reaction to the user, and so medical experts try to avoid using it, preferring dependence instead.

• A state of being dependent on a certain substance, which is harmful or dangerous for the physical or mental health of the person, for his social well-being and economical functioning of the subject

• A disease process characterized by the continued use of a specific psychoactive substance despite physical, psychological or social harm.

• Dependence on a substance (such as alcohol or other drugs) or an activity, to the point that stopping is very difficult and causes severe physical and mental reactions

• Dependence on a substance that is harmful to physical or mental health, social well-being, or economic functioning.

• Loss of control over drug use or the compulsive seeking and taking of drug despite adverse consequences.

• in reference to drugs, a pattern of consumption marked by compulsive taking of a drug, the need for increasing doses over time to maintain the same effect(tolerance), and the appearance of symptoms when the drug is stopped that disappear when it is reinstated(withdrawal).

• A condition characterized by excessive preoccupation with sex that creates a compulsive search for a sexual stimulation, the compulsion to have sex no matter the cost or risk, and a feeling of utter hopelessness and an inability to control one’s own compulsions. Strong dependence or habitual use of a substance or practice, despite the negative consequences of its use.

• Addiction is an uncontrollable compulsion to repeat a behavior regardless of its consequences. A person who is addicted is sometimes called an addict.

Here are some other interesting posts on addiction:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome – Alcohol use during pregnancy and produce Fetal Alcohol Syndrome…

Keeping Yourself Balanced in Addiction Recovery – If history has taught us anything (the history of Erin that is) it is that I love to spout off addiction recovery sayings. Now, what saying would I annoyingly come up with if this situation was someone else’s? …

Prescription Drug Addiction and what to do about it – Non-medical use of prescription drugs like opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and stimulants can lead to addiction, characterized by compulsive drug cravings and use. Patients, doctors, and pharmacists all have roles to …

Tagged as: Addiction, Addiction Recovery, Addiction-Treatment, pain in my arm