What is an addiction?
An addiction is any behavior that is compulsively repeated in spite of persistent and serious negative consequences in a person’s spiritual, marital, emotional, physical, social, intimate, financial, professional, or legal life. One can be addicted to illegal or prescription drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, sugar, or food, or he may have a “behavioral addiction,” such as workaholism, gambling, shopping, lying, procrastination, pornography, exercising, sports, sexual addiction, or compulsive television watching. The key here is the degree to which a person feels he must engage in the destructive behavior, and that he persists in spite of major and persistent negative consequences.
