Can behaviors be addictive? Why not?

To clarify things, there is some debate as to whether certain behaviors are addictive and similar to alcohol abuse or drug addiction. These behaviors might include overeating, problem gambling, sexual compulsion, and shoplifting.

People who struggle with these behaviors do seem to display the signs of addiction. They become lost in these behaviors, since these behaviors take over their lives. Gambling consumes people who can’t control their gambling: they spend a great deal of their time thinking about gambling, actually gambling, and then feeling the effects of their gambling. They then repeat this cycle over and over again. This is similar to the cycle that drug and alcohol abusers often experience.

And they really feel the effects of their gambling. Gambling addicts, like alcohol abusers and drug addicts, often lose important things to their addictions. These losses include lost time and money. Addicts can also lose career or educational opportunities. They might be so busy gambling that they lose their jobs or fail their classes. Saddest of all, gambling (or drug) addicts can lose their families and friends because of the all-consuming nature of their addictions.

Weirdly enough, it appears that gambling triggers the same areas in the brain that respond to drugs such as morphine and cocaine. It seems, then, that gambling addictions, like drug addictions, can change the way the brain works. These addictions are not just behaviors but physical conditions.

Some people argue that labeling behaviors such as problem gambling and overeating as addictions is misusing the idea of addiction. But problem gambling and overeating have physical and behavioral factors that can take over every aspect of person’s life. That sounds like a lot like alcohol or drug abuse to me. Like alcohol and drug abuse, there is also treatment for problem gambling or overeating addictions that can help people regain control of their lives.