About Addiction
One in three people suffer from an addiction. It breaks up families, damages communities and destroys lives. In some way it touches us all.
Despite this, there is a great deal of misunderstanding about addiction - what it is, who it effects and how to get help and support. This section of the website will enable you to understand addiction better.
We want to help you to find the information that you are looking for as quickly as possible.
It can be difficult to identify an addiction problem. Our sections on alcohol, drugs, smoking and other addictions will help you to do this.
Addiction is a treatable condition. Action on Addiction provides a variety of treatment options to suit individual needs.
If you are a parent, you may also want to read our 'Let's Talk Drugs' booklet which will give you advice on talking to your children about alcohol and substance use.
Addiction
An addiction is a habit that has spiralled out of control. It is a harmful, recurring compulsion to engage in a particular activity such as drug taking, drinking, smoking, gambling, eating and having sex. Often these activities alter the natural chemical behaviour of the brain temporarily.
An addict engages with the activity to which he is addicted not to induce pleasure but to relieve the anxiety of withdrawal.
Addictions are difficult to break by their very nature. Dependency on some substances or activities is driven by a multitude of factors, for example, self-esteem, sensation-seeking and childhood issues.
Signs of addiction
Physical dependency
This is caused when repeated use of a substance changes your body's chemistry and you become physically dependent.
Psychological dependency
This is caused when you repeat certain behaviour, such as drug and alcohol use, until your mind is hooked on that pattern of behaviour, causing mental cravings.
Identifying an addiction problem
Have a look at our sections on drugs, alcohol, smoking, and other addictions.
For further information, please call us on: 0845 126 4130 or email us on: action@actiononaddiction.org.uk