Addiction

Addiction, habitual repetition of excessive behavior that a person is unable or unwilling to stop, despite its harmful consequences. People can be physically addicted to a drug, meaning they may suffer ill physical effects if they stop taking the drug. They also can be psychologically addicted to drugs, gambling, or other behaviors, meaning they feel overwhelmingly deprived if they attempt to stop.

For information on:

• alcohol addiction and its treatment, see Alcoholism; Alcoholics Anonymous; Delirium Tremens; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
• drug addiction to narcotic drugs, see Drug Dependence; Narcotics; Psychoactive Drugs; Barbiturate; Depressant; Opium; Sedative; Stimulant; Cocaine
• excessive and self-destructive gambling, see Pathological Gambling
• nicotine, an addictive drug present in tobacco, see Smoking: Smoking Cessation in Individuals; Nicotine
• habitual behavior in general, see Habit