Addiction
Alcoholism, Substance Abuse

Causes of Addiction

There are no specific causes of any addiction aside from use of a substance or activity, and there is no way to predict who will become dependent on use.

Any substance or activity that has the capacity to be pleasurable can provide the conditions for addiction.

All addictions impact various neural circuits of the brain, including those related to reward, motivation, and memory.

Recent Posts on Addiction

One Parent & Psychologist's Perspective	If sugar is toxic, what should you do?	The risk of cross-addictions in early recovery	The genes related to addiction and ADHD may have some advantages.
Casual friendship, relationship, or commitment?	How letting go opens up the possibility to receive.	Should we live our lives with no regrets as the song tells us to?	The best treatment is always the one that works.
How to stop even the nastiest behaviors.	The four core addictions drive addictive behavior.	Constancy, overconfidence and conscious recovery	Smoking marijuana enhances natural mechanisms within the brain.

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Addiction Blogs

A Remarkable Recovery
The battle of addiction.
By Brenda Iliff
Addicted Brains
A neuroscientist examines life on drugs.
By Marc Lewis, Ph.D.
Addiction in Society
Addiction—the thematic malady for our society—entails every type of psychological and societal problem.
By Stanton Peele, Ph.D., J.D.
All About Addiction
Helping addicts get their lives back.
By Adi Jaffe, Ph.D.
Emotional Sobriety
Recovering from substance addiction—without becoming addicted to spirituality.
By Ingrid Mathieu, Ph.D.
Seeking Equilibrium
Social dysregulation, psychopathology and self-medication.
By McWelling Todman, Ph.D.
The Almost Effect
Helping the nearly alcoholic.
By Joseph Nowinski, Ph.D.
The Heart of Addiction
How psychology drives addictive behavior.
By Lance Dodes, M.D.