“Have you tried their fries?” Courtney asks over lunch. “Oh my god, I am so addicted to them!”
“No, I haven’t,” replies Ginger, “but did you see the season finale of Game of Thrones last night? I’m completely addicted! I’m going to have withdrawals waiting for the next season to start.”
“Game of Thrones?” asks Jack. “You call that addictive? Bah! Try playing Mortal Kombat. That’s addictive.”
“Have you seen how much bottled water April drinks at her desk?” asks Lindsey. “I swear she’s addicted to it. She couldn’t drink tap water if her life depended on it.”
“Speaking of addiction,” says Charlie, “I think our boss has been going a bit too crazy with the chocolate. He looks like he’s gained a few pounds.”
“A gym addiction wouldn’t kill him, would it?” jokes Jack.
You’ve just eavesdropped on one of the most common workplace—or any place—conversations, a chat about addiction. Years ago, the word “addiction” was taboo. Its connotations ran deep, and when a person was said to be addicted, it was bad. It meant they were alcoholics and drug addicts; it meant they had a serious, hurtful problem.
Today, society seems to have an addiction to addiction. Walk into any store blindfolded, point, and whatever you’re pointing at is on an addiction list somewhere. We throw the word around with such commonality that addiction doesn’t appear to be such a big deal anymore. It’s become a label instead of a condition.
Society’s Addiction Tolerance
Over the years, society has developed a tolerance to addiction. At first, it meant only a few things. Today, we find more and more things to label as addictive in a seeming effort to satisfy our craving. The label of addicting has almost become a means to justify overindulgence or distraction, and when one thing stops entertaining us, we move on to our “next addiction.”
A new technology hits the market, and suddenly we’re addicted. We upgrade our tablet or mobile phone, and we’re glued to it almost unnaturally for months. We find ourselves planted in front of the television engaged in marathons on Netflix and Hulu, and we label it as our latest addiction. We buy a few bottles of liquor to mix a drink recipe we saw on the Internet, and before we know it, we’re addicted to developing our at home bartending skills. Before we know it, we’re addicted to alcohol, but it’s okay! It’s just our latest addiction, soon to be replaced by the next big thing. Or is it?
The Danger of Addiction Acceptance
A little addiction is acceptable, right? I mean, getting caught up in that latest whatever and going a little overboard is okay, don’t you think? It’s natural. Everybody does it! It’s not like its pre-dispositioning you and me to become addicted to a harmful substance.
According to Medical News Today, a risk factor is defined as “something which increases the likelihood of developing a condition or disease.” For example, we all know obesity raises the risk of several health issues, including diabetes.
The facts show anyone, regardless of their social status, sex, age, or cultural background, can grow addicted to a substance. However, there are some factors, which may increase the risk:
- Genetics: For years, scientists have deliberated over whether substance abuse is built into our DNA. While there isn’t an exact gene that determines whether any of us will be addicts during our lifespan, those who have a close relative with an addiction problem run a greater risk of developing an addiction. Whether this is the result of environment, one-on-one influence or pure genetics, the figurative jury is still out. But the point remains genetics or family history increase one’s risk of addiction.
- Peer Pressure: It’s one of the leading risk factors for becoming addicted. The desire to conform and gain acceptance by those we look up to is powerful. Peer pressure attacks us all from different angles, from the crowd at work and school to the social scene we want to be included in.
- A Substance’s Nature: Some substances are naturally more addictive than others are. For example, heroin and cocaine can more rapidly cause an addiction versus other substances, such as alcohol.
- Stress Levels: Unfortunately, there is no escaping stress. No one in this world truly lives a stress-free life, although many try. The pursuit of minimal to no stress can culminate in an addiction as the answer. In contrast, others fall prey to addiction in an effort to find a coping mechanism during times of high stress. Medical News Today reports a link between high stress levels and addiction. Some stress hormones have been linked to alcoholism, and the presence of stress can increase the rate at which an individual grows addicted to a substance.
Society’s addiction to addiction could easily fall into the above list. In fact, it very closely relates to peer pressure. As more and more people find something to label as “my addiction,” more and more find a need to discover their own addiction. As a result, the truth behind it has become blurred.
A Real Life Example
In 2012, ABC News covered the story of a 34-year-old woman who was addicted to the emotional high stemming from a new romance. It didn’t matter that she was married with three children. It started with her former high school English teacher and escalated to the same sense of need and urgency experienced by drug and alcohol addicts.
Says Anna David, executive editor of The Fix, a website dedicated to addiction and recovery, “We’re living in a time when addiction can be said without shame…and that’s a good thing.”
Yet, at the same time, it’s also dangerous. Our acceptance of addiction to everything from chocolate to games has brought with it a less serious connotation. We think of addiction as a quirky, innocent, and short-lived event when, in fact, it can be utterly devastating.
In our upcoming articles, we will discuss why many do (but don’t) want to try drugs and a real-life example of how devastating addiction can be. We’ll also show you a real-life example of how a substance addiction can be overcome, and we’ll delve into the truth behind it.