Addiction refers to any behaviour that indicates excessive dependence (psychological or physical) on a particular substance or behaviour. Addiction is often associated with the reward centres in the human brain that create patterns and habits. Obsession and compulsion occur to recreate the experience and addiction begins. Common factors that differentiate problematic behaviour/use and addiction are the 3-C’s; loss of control, compulsivity, and continuing regardless of the consequences. A fourth factor is a building tolerance, where someone requires more of a substance/behaviour to get the same reward-outcome.
