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Addiction

By Kimberly Read & Marcia Purse, About.com

Updated September 25, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition:
Physically and psychologically, addiction has two definitions:
  1. Having a compulsive physical and psychological need for a chemical substance such as a habit-forming drug;
  2. Compulsively engaging in an activity to fill a psychological need that is beyond one's control.
Pronunciation:
uh-DIK-shun
Also Known As: habit, hooked on
Examples:
  1. Research indicates that women can develop an addiction to crack cocaine more quickly than men.
  2. Some people can break the addiction to nicotine easily; for others it is extremely difficult.
  3. Addiction to shopping is far from harmless; it can lead a person or family deep into debt if not controlled in time.
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