Word Study: Addiction

I was surprised to see that one of the definitions of addiction is enslavement. Thinking it over, however, I believe that enslavement is a good way to describe addiction because that is exactly what addiction does to a person. When you are a slave to something, you are trapped by a force greater than you, which controls a major part of your life. When it comes to addiction, we tend to focus on the ones that are easily visible. But let us not overlook the ones that are harder to detect such as obsessive eating, undereating, or compulsive lying, to name a few.

The full definition of addiction according to Webster’s Dictionary is: a compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity having harmful physical, psychological, or social effects and typically causing well-defined symptoms (such as anxiety, irritability, tremors, or nausea) upon withdrawal or abstinence: the state of being addicted.

According to Psychology, “a person with an addiction uses a substance, or engages in a behavior, for which the rewarding effects provide a compelling incentive to repeat the activity, despite detrimental consequences.” It adds that substance abuse and addictive behaviors can be “accompanied by mental issues such as depression or anxiety or other pre-existing conditions.” The studies I read all confirm: while when a person at the time they are using the substance or engaging in the behavior feel a sense of euphoria, although afterwards they may be riddled with shame and guilt, they feel compelled to engage in the activity again. And over time, pursuit of the pleasurable effects of the substance or behavior will dominate their activities.

Because I am not a doctor, I don’t really understand the science behind addiction. I can only go by the effects I have seen or experienced. I have family and childhood friends who became victims of addictive behaviors. Unfortunately, some have lost serious relationships and even their jobs as a result. It has caused a lot of friction and even separation between other members of the family. For some an even greater price was paid, imprisonment or even death.

People have described addiction as having a monkey on your back. I’m not sure what they mean when they say that, but I feel that addiction works something like this. Sometimes the addiction feels like it’s very far from you and you have it under control. Other times it feels like it’s lurking around the corner waiting to overtake you. Sometimes it feels like it’s tapping you on the shoulder asking to have you again, like the child constantly tapping his mother begging for that cookie. At its worst, it just overtakes you without your permission or control. You fall into its grip and it enslaves you again.

King David in Psalms 18:17, talks about how his enemy was too strong for him. Addiction is similar to that enemy that is too strong for you. But there is hope! Because in that same verse he goes on to say that the Lord delivered him. This gives us hope that the Lord can deliver us from addictions. He came to set us free from anything that enslaves us. The Bible mentions in Luke 4:18b that He came to …proclaim liberty to the captives and release from darkness to the prisoners… If you are struggling with an addiction today, take the time to get help. There are many agencies available to help us, but don’t forget to go to the Lord for help.