Addictions

Addictions are addictions of the mind, as much as they are addictions of the body. A person can be just as addicted to an activity as to a substance. Man has battled various addictions since his earliest beginnings. The advancement of society has changeds only to what people may become addicted.

Webster’s dictionary defines addiction as “the compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance, characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal.” Merriam Webster states this definition quite firmly. This writing will attempt to shine light on the various angles to approach addiction. It will adhere to the book definition and focus on the compulsiveness of the condition. At the same time, it will illustrate forms of addiction that go against the conventional meaning by not fitting the exact straight definition put forth by Webster. In both instances, examples will be given to attempt to prove or disprove the original definition stated by the book.
Throughout the evolution of man, substance abuse and addiction have plagued human beings. Primitive farmers were the first to discover the mind-numbing properties of marijuana, which is derived from hemp plants. Hemp quickly became popular as a device to dull the senses. As time went by, men began to develop other mind-altering substances. By 3000 BC, alcohol had emerged as a popular drug of choice. This new substance was being produced in various forms such as beer, wine, and whiskey and quickly became daily parts of men’s lives (Hazelden-Pittman Museum of Addiction and Recovery 1). Alcohol and hemp were not the only substances the world was reliant upon. Ancient Egyptians recorded in holy scrolls the use of opium as a form of magical escape (Behavioral Health World for Professionals 1). As the evolution of mankind continued, tobacco was not far behind in the race of new addictive substances. The European reliance upon tobacco was a partial reason for the success of the Jamestown Colony. By the 1800’s, drugs were in strong demand around the world and continued to be a popular trade for many companies (Hazelden-Pittman Museum of Addiction and Recovery 1). Although many have been outlawed in recent years, drugs are still popular today. However, addiction has evolved with our species from early man’s use of plants to today’s addictions to technological devices such as television and the Internet.

Addiction is one of the many problems that our society faces today. Some think that addiction is just an emotional or psychological concept and that people with an addiction continue the activity because they want to. In actuality, addiction is a medical condition. Addiction is stimulated from the brain and a path known as the reward pathway. People and animals both learn to repeat rewarding behaviors, and this pathway in the brain is responsible for rewarding behaviors. The major structures in the reward pathway are the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the nucleus accumbens, and the prefrontal cortex. The VTA is connected to both the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex, and it sends information to these structures through its neurons. The neurons of the VTA contain the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is released in the nucleus accumbens and in the prefrontal cortex. The dopamine release is increased after a reward has been received. Dopamine is what keeps the person coming back to a particular substance or behavior. Researchers now know many of the physical reasons a person’s body becomes addicted to a substance or behavior. As stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “It is clear that addiction is a disease of the brain.” (National Institute on Drug Abuse 1-2). Even though it is the individual’s choice to start doing the addictive activity, it is usually not his or her choice to continue doing it; they just can’t help it.

When one thinks of addiction many words come to mind. Among these are drugs, alcohol, and occasionally sex. While these are all “valid” addictions, there are a host of others that most people don’t even think exist. Over and over again, people hear about drug-addictions or alcohol addictions. Addictions are not, however, limited to this narrow definition. There are all types of addictions facing people in the new millennium. One can be addicted to alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, nicotine, television, gambling, the Internet, pornography, eating, and even religion. There are countless other addictions out there that cannot all be named in one paper. What addiction really amounts to is a dependence on something. It is a behavior that is done in excess. The key to addiction is this excessive behavior. Addictions come at the expense of all other things in a person’s life. One example of this is eating. Eating is a completely natural act, and it is one that many wouldn’t classify as an addiction. This is rightly so under normal circumstances. However, eating becomes an addiction when one does it excessively. A person addicted to eating will continue eating at the expense of other values in his life. The man who eats at the expense of his health is an addict. This whole concept of the relationship between addiction and excess holds true for all the other addictions named above. The boy who sits in front of the TV all night at the expense of his homework and other outside interests is an addict. Even religion can be taken too far. While many choose to worship God to varying degrees, it is the people who worship God constantly and forget their duties here on Earth that are addicted.

Alcohol is one of the most addictive drugs used by college students. Say you and your friends go to a party and have a couple of beers. Then down the road, you and your friends go to more parties where you have to drink more than a couple of beers to get drunk because your tolerance has already begun to build up for that substance. By the time you graduate, you have become addicted to alcohol. Smoking is also one of the biggest influences on young people today. Lifeguards at a local swimming pool even witnessed a couple of 5 and 6-year-olds smoking cigarettes. These young kids will probably become addicted to smoking because they will probably continue to smoke in order to impress their peers. By the time they realize that smoking is a bad habit, they will be addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes, so will have difficulty quitting. Gambling, the Internet, and pornography are also addictions. Although they do not involve substance abuse, they are as destructive as drug-related addictions. This is because addicted people get so caught up in the need for the behavior that it consumes and destroys their lives. Pathological gambling is self-destructive when one’s compulsive need for gambling takes over his or her life. Also, in recent years, many people have become addicted to the Internet and pornography. These people spend most of their time on the Internet or fanatically involved in pornography. They become so obsessed with these activities that they are unable to lead normal lives at work or within their families. Like other addicts, these people often withdraw from family and friends in order to devote more time to their addictions. Also like their counterparts who are addicted to substances, most of these individuals will need professional help to overcome their addictions. In all of these examples of addiction, the addicted people have an uncontrolled need for a substance or behavior, and if they stop the substance or behavior, they will suffer both physiological and physical side effects.

While Webster’s definition of addiction is one of the better ones, it still names “substances” as the cause of addiction. In reality, addiction is so much more. Addiction is not limited to merely substances; rather it is characterized by compulsive and excessive behavior. Clearly, a person can be just as addicted to an activity such as gambling as another person is addicted to alcohol. Man has battled various addictions since his earliest beginnings. As society continues to evolve, he will surely have to continue this fight.