What is "Addiction"?

Ask a hundred different people and you may receive a hundred different answers. Addiction is an allusive word that sometimes and for some people, is hard to define. It is a word wrapped in taboo and stigma. Even many clinicians prefer terms such as, chemically dependent (for people with substance problems) and behavioral disorder (for people with a behavior problem, such as gambling). This is very confusing for those of us who don't know what we are dealing with. All that we are sure of is that we are dealing with an issue that is consuming and destroying, not only our lives, but the live's of those around us.

Here is one definition that may help us to understand what addiction is:

...if as a result of using any substance or repeating a behavior, problems begin to occur or re-occur in any of the major areas of our lives (physically, mentally, emotionally or socially), despite promises to slow down or stop and regardless of the ongoing consequences, then one can be said to be suffering from addiction...

The bottom line is that addiction is a chronic, progressive and incurable illness and if left untreated can be, and often times is, fatal.

There is hope however, addiction can be successfully treated and recovery from the disease is possible. There are millions of people afflicted with the disease of addiction who lead normal, healthy, happy and productive lives. The purpose of this website is to help people find the resources they need to live with this disease. Help and hope are available.