Addiction

Addiction involves the body and mind becoming reliant on a substance or behaviour. Four key features describe it: physic

Addiction

Addiction

Some people are more likely to develop an addiction than others. Five key risk factors increase that likelihood: genes,

Addiction

Addiction

Nicotine triggers the release of dopamine, a brain chemical that produces feelings of pleasure. The brain learns to crav

Addiction

Addiction

Learning theory explains how people become addicted to smoking through reward and association. Certain sights, smells, o

Addiction

Addiction

Learning theory explains gambling addiction through conditioning. Gamblers learn to repeat gambling because winning feel

Addiction

Addiction

Gambling keeps people hooked because wins are unpredictable. Rewards that arrive randomly — not every time — make behavi

Addiction

Addiction

Cognitive theory explains gambling addiction through faulty thinking patterns called cognitive biases. These biases caus

Addiction

Addiction

Drug therapy uses prescribed medication to reduce or stop addictive behaviour. Drugs either replace the addictive substa

Addiction

Addiction

Aversion therapy and covert sensitisation are treatments that pair an addictive behaviour with something unpleasant. Thi

Addiction

Addiction

CBT is a talking therapy that helps people with addiction spot and change the faulty thoughts that drive their addictive

Addiction

Addiction

The theory of planned behaviour says three things shape whether someone intends to act: their own attitude, what others

Addiction

Addiction

Prochaska's model describes six stages a person moves through when giving up an addiction. People can move forward, stal

Addiction