Sunday, November 17, 2013

What qualifies as an addiction?



Addiction is a term that is often thrown around in today’s society, but what does it really mean? There has recently been an article claiming that Oreos are as addictive as cocaine. People often claim they are addicted to their phones or addicted to shopping. It is well known that substances of abuse like alcohol or heroine are highly addictive and many people become addicted every year. Is a shopping addiction really the same as a heroin addiction or are people just using the word addiction to exaggerate? An addiction is a chronic disease of the brain. A feeling is achieved in the brain when an addict uses the thing they are addicted to. This chemical feeling caused by the release of neurotransmitters is something the brain wants to happen again so it begins to crave that activity. To be an addiction a person must not be able to abstain from that activity and that activity must have negative impacts on their life. These negative impacts can be socially, occupationally, or recreationally. A person who is an addict may have withdrawal symptoms when the substance is taken away. A big factor that helps determine that a behavior or activity is an addiction is that the person who is an addict continues to do an activity even when they know how harmful it has become to their everyday life. In conclusion, it is possible to develop addictions to things outside of substances of abuse. In today’s society though addiction is thrown around to exaggerate someone’s point when it comes to things such as phones, social media, and shopping.

Chelsey K. M.
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