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This information has been supplied by The Addiction Action Campaign of S.A. Books on this issue > Click here Any desire that we have no control over > Besides substances, addictive behaviour can be found in many other instances that affect quality of life, identity and relationships.
In terms of substances such as drugs, nicotine, caffeine, alcohol and sugar, addiction can be defined as being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on that substance that is psychologically or physically habit-forming. The result would be an abnormally strong craving. Addiction progresses to a compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance or behaviour and the condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in using that substance or behaviour.
Alcoholics Anonymous or AA defines in its first step of the 12 Step recovery program, “We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol / drugs and that our lives had become unmanageable.” Addiction can therefore be described as powerlessness over anything with a person's life being described as unmanageable because of it.
Need help? Call 079-066-3382 (Mon to Fri / 8am to 5pm) 
According to the South African Department of Social Services, addiction is defined as:
- A strong desire or sense of compulsion to engage in a particular behaviour (especially when the opportunity to engage in such behaviour is not available).
- Impaired capacity to control the behaviour (notably in terms of controlling its onset, staying off, or controlling the level at which the behaviour occurs).
- Discomfort or distress when the behaviour stops.
- Persisting with the behaviour despite clear evidence that it is leading to problems.
Their reference - Ref: Pols, Dr R, Farrin, Ms J A Sirenko, (1994) Handbook for Medical Practitioners & other Health Care Workers Australian Government Printing.
In terms of life, identity and relationships, human beings become addicted to emotions, love, masturbation, sex and pornography etc. which results in a cycle of destructive relationships. It finishes with the loss of free will, identity and an inability to manage one's life and relationships successfully on life's terms and finally, death.
Ultimately, all addictions begin with an IDENTITY CRISIS. This identity crisis is explained in more detail in the section, A biblical perspective. AA says that it is a disease and one that cannot be cured. The AAC tends to disagree based on lack of scientific evidence for this claim as well as the origin of the word and its original meaning within the context of AA.
In wanting to explain where alcoholism or addiction begins, it was explained in the early days as a dis-ease. In other words, it begins with uneasiness in an individual and the need to consume alcohol, drugs or engage in a behaviour is born. Either peer pressure or environmental conditioning creates this uneasiness or dis-ease. The identity of a person is affected by the creation of a belief in that person's heart or subconscious that they are not complete without it. From this internal belief flows a desire that needs fulfilment as the individual believes that they are in lack. The core of this belief is that their life will be better with it and they will suffer or be incomplete without it. For example, friends could be lost if they do not partake. No one wants to be lonely or not popular as they believe that being popular is desirable. However, once the substance or behaviour has been used, the body forms a tolerance after which a physical dependency and mental obsession is formed.
Many people including doctors, scientists and AA themselves have believed and stated categorically that alcoholism or addiction is a genetic flaw or memory which is passed down from generation to generation. Whilst this may be partly true, it is also partly incorrect. Dr. James B. Richards of the Impact of Huntsville Auricular Detoxification Clinic in Alabama believes that this is not true. “Although the alcoholic or addictive behavioural gene is inherited, it is only carried by its host until the age of about 5 years old. After this point it becomes a LEARNED BEHAVIOUR.” In other words, humans are only predisposed to addiction until the age of 5. After this age it is modeled by that person's social or parental environment. Their identity is affected by beliefs, morals, and the values that are learned within their social environment. It is therefore INCORRECT to say that if your father or mother is an alcoholic, you will also be one. But the chances are you will be. It’s a learned behaviour that results in a physical compulsion and mental obsession. Need help? Call 079-066-3382 (Mon to Fri / 8am to 5pm)
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What is Addiction
