What is addiction?

Addiction is a brain disease Addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder Addiction involves the chronic pharmacological actions of substances in the brain There are different types of addiction (e.g., alcohol, cocaine) Individuals may be more vulnerable to addiction than others Endophenotypes of addiction may facilitate diagnosis and treatment Addiction may involve numerous factors (e.g., social, biological) Addiction does not happen immediately There are stages of addiction (e.g., preoccupation, loss of control) There are also “non-substance” behavioural addictions (e.g., gambling) Limited use of addictive drugs is clinically distinct from addiction