Addiction | Description, Characteristics, & Treatment

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sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/addiction/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/addiction">Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/addiction/images-videos">Images, Videos & Interactives</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/261156-050-BD939A72/Stock-image-of-female-with-drug-addiction-preparing-a-heroin-dose.jpg" data-href="/media/1/5400/313408" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-15T00:00:00CST" >Nov 15, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/addiction/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Key People: </dt> <dd><a href="/biography/Thomas-De-Quincey" topicid="153951">Thomas De Quincey</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/science/alcoholism" topicid="13448">alcoholism</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/drug-abuse" topicid="171982">drug abuse</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/workaholism" topicid="2068895">workaholism</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/chemical-dependency" topicid="108632">chemical dependency</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/psychological-dependence" topicid="481641">psychological dependence</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/addiction"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-11-exposure-marijuana-womb-addiction-opioids.html" rel="nofollow">Exposure to marijuana in the womb may increase risk of addiction to opioids later in life, study finds</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 14, 2024, 4:10 AM ET (Medical Xpress) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/11/06/childhood-trauma-could-increase-the-risk-of-addiction-to-short-form-videos" rel="nofollow">Childhood trauma could increase the risk of addiction to short-form videos</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 5, 2024, 3:25 PM ET (The Star) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref1312238"></span>addiction</strong>, physical or psychological need for a substance or behavior that is physically, psychologically, or socially harmful. Addiction is accompanied by extreme difficulty in ceasing to use the substance or in ceasing to repeat the behavior, despite <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="detrimental" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detrimental" data-type="MW">detrimental</a> consequences. Substances to which individuals may become addicted include <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/drug-chemical-agent" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">drugs</a>, particularly <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/cocaine" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cocaine</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/opioid" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">opioids</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/methamphetamine" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">methamphetamine</a>. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/nicotine" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nicotine</a>, a substance in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/common-tobacco" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">tobacco</a>, is responsible for the addictive effects of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/smoking-tobacco" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">smoking</a> and other forms of tobacco use. Individuals may also become addicted to food or to activities, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/gambling" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">gambling</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/online-gaming" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">online gaming</a>, shopping, sex, or interacting with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-media" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">social media</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="312987" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="video" video-id="260992"><a data-id="260992" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/davids-opioid-use-disorder-story/-312987"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/92/260992-138-2BF7E91C/davids-opioid-use-disorder-story.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="The video thumbnail image shows a white man sitting outside on a cold day." loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/iZpEk53X.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/92/260992-138-2BF7E91C/davids-opioid-use-disorder-story.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/diJy2bBy.vtt", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/RbU31jj7.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="260992">Opioid addiction: A story of recovery</span><span>The life-changing impacts of opioid addiction—and how one person found hope and support in recovery.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/science/addiction/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The causes of addiction vary. Environmental factors, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/stress-psychology-and-biology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">stress</a>, peer pressure, exposure to drugs early in life, and physical or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/sexual-abuse" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">sexual abuse</a>, may play a significant role. Certain genetic factors are suspected of interacting with environmental factors to increase a person’s risk of addiction; in fact, as much as half of an individual’s risk of addiction to substances such as to nicotine is <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="attributed" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/attributed" data-type="EB">attributed</a> to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/human-genetics" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">genetics</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref356554"> <h2 class="h1">Characteristics</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The use of certain drugs heightens the risk of chemical <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/chemical-dependency" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">dependence</a>, wherein the body becomes reliant upon the substance, such that if use of the substance is stopped, unpleasant physical symptoms develop. Chemical dependence occurs because <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/neuron" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">neurons</a> in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/brain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">brain</a> adapt to repetitive exposure to the substance, to the degree that they function normally only when the drug is present in the body. Central to this process is the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/neurotransmitter" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">neurotransmitter</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/dopamine" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">dopamine</a>. Substances or behaviors linked to pleasurable or euphoric experiences induce surges of dopamine, which serve to reinforce relationships between those substances or behaviors and such experiences. Over time, the brain develops a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="craving" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/craving" data-type="EB">craving</a> for the pleasurable or euphoric feeling, driving individuals to use the drug or to carry out the behavior again and again.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/44-questions-from-britannicas-most-popular-health-and-medicine-quizzes" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/215905-131-626D860A/Encyclopaedia-Britannica-thistle-graphic-logo.jpg" alt="Encyclopaedia Britannica thistle graphic to be used with a Mendel/Consumer quiz in place of a photograph." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">44 Questions from Britannica’s Most Popular Health and Medicine Quizzes</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Addiction is often accompanied by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/depression-psychology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">depression</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/anxiety" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">anxiety</a>, and affected individuals may be unaware of the impact that addiction is having on their lives, including work, interpersonal relationships, finances, and physical <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/health" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">health</a>. Even when addicted individuals are aware of harmful effects, they may be unable to cease <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/drug-use" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">drug use</a> or repetition of the behavior. Moreover, in cases of drug addiction and late-stage <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/alcoholism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">alcoholism</a>, attempts at abrupt cessation may lead to serious withdrawal symptoms and even death.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref356555"> <h2 class="h1">Treatment</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Treatment depends on the type of addiction. In severe cases of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/drug-abuse" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">drug abuse</a>, such as opioid addiction, a combination of medication and behavioral intervention may be necessary to manage <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="withdrawal" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/withdrawal" data-type="EB">withdrawal</a> symptoms. Many persons dealing with addiction benefit from various types of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/psychotherapy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">psychotherapy</a>, whether individual or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/group-therapy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">group therapy</a>, or from programs that address specific addictions (e.g., <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Alcoholics-Anonymous" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Alcoholics Anonymous</a>, Gamblers Anonymous, or Narcotics Anonymous).</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <div class="mb-20"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="315532" data-asm-type="infogram"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="infogram"><script id="infogram_0__/jk4jQzpZthyAO5wrj4bj" src="https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed.js?Itp" type="text/javascript" title="Explore Britannica's coverage"></script></div></figure></div></div> </section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/contributor/suzan-colon/12904155">Suzan Colón</a></span> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":5400,"pageLength":424,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Addiction | Description, Characteristics, & Treatment | Britannica