Defining Addiction

People use the word addiction or 'addict' indiscriminately, and probably without fully understanding what the terms mean.

Drug dependence (addiction) is compulsive use of a substance despite negative consequences which can be severe; drug abuse is simply excessive use of a drug or use of a drug for purposes for which it was not medically intended.

Physical dependence on a substance (needing a drug to function) is not necessary or sufficient to define addiction. There are some substances that don't cause addiction but do cause physical dependence (for example, some blood pressure medications) and substances that cause addiction but not classic physical dependence (cocaine withdrawal, for example, doesn't have symptoms like vomiting and chills; it is mainly characterized by depression).

When an addict is on drugs, for say even the medium term, the disease of addiction profoundly alters his personality. The disease of addiction now leaves a deformed personality.

Is there an addictive personality?

Often you have been told or heard that someone who is abusing an addictive substance, has an "addictive personality."

The dictionary defines "addictive personality" as one which is "characterized by or susceptible to addiction." Therefore once a person is addicted, the personality is definitely "characterized by addiction."

With regard to susceptibility, the question is, "What makes one susceptible to addiction?" On the onset, let's be clearly informed that data from more than 60 years of experience from Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotic Anonymous have dispelled the myth of "addictive personality."

Genetic Predisposition

There is however a proven genetic predisposition towards chemical dependency. Children of alcoholics are twice as prone to addiction as other unaffected people. In spite of an inherited tendency towards addiction, it is important to remember that the majority of people with addicted parents do not become addicts themselves. It would be reasonable then to say that there is no such thing as an addictive personality i.e. someone destined to be an addict. There must be other important variables acting on the probabilities and vulnerabilities.