I do feel somewhat qualified to discuss addiction with you as I have witnessed its cruel effects on members of my own family. One of six kids (Catholic family obviously – contraception…- what’s that?) Four boys two girls, the two wonderful sisters untouched by addiction of any colour and there I am wondering what that simple fact of sex might tell a researcher into addictions.
Not so much luck for the men in the family and weirdly perhaps those of my three male siblings chose a completely separate type of addiction to indulge in. But let’s start with my dear old dad a man who was and remains my hero although he now rests in peace. It was not something that I was even aware of until in my 30s, Dad with all his brood off adulting or trying too, he left my dear old mum for a cucumber-sandwich-eating-librarian devastating my sisters, not to mention my mother. It was then in her early 70’s that she revealed bitterly to me that her partner of 50 years had apparently been a serial philanderer all of her married life – a dark unknown secret - sex addiction? Maybe.
Then there is the oldest brother, again a great person who did however, ruin ruin his financial standing mid-life chasing the big win by gambling. In his 50s and as a consequence of his addiction, he was suddenly penniless and suffering due to his own foible, being the loss of a marriage, a business, a home and everything else that goes with that including self-respect and dignity. Now over twenty or so years since he appears to have recovered staying well away from the dreaded casinos that he had helped pay their power and cleaning bills from his hard earned income.
Bro 2 cannabis. A gentle philosopher he smoked weed daily from his early teens and for many years until he inexplicably passed a few years back in his early 60’s. Just a sudden renal failure with no obvious initial cause, he eventually succumbed as one by one his vital organs closed down. Drug addiction? Maybe.
Bro 3 joined the navy at a ridiculously young age of 15 and within that culture started to drink and never stopped. In those days the NZ navy served overproof rum by the daily tot. Before 18 he was an alcoholic and still is. He was a drunk but not a good one, falling into bushes at parties after maybe an hour of gulping down the cheapest sweet, boxed wine. A carer in his later years tried to traverse him across to wacky baccy but the strength of that hydroponic weed smashed his damaged brain into drug induced psychosis. So much so that he was periodically committed and now back out in the free world he truly believes that he is the resurrected Jesus, something he will tell anyone he meets.
Me? For some inexplicable reason although I enjoy all of the vices mentioned above (apart from the weed) I have not been, am not now, and never will be, addicted to any one of those. Perhaps just being the best looking of my tribe has been a heavy enough cross to bear. Addicted to my own brilliance and mirrors…Noooo!
So, all of that family history of addictions got me to thinking. WTF is addiction. Is it a habit or is it a disease. Time to check in with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, because let's face it if any country knows a thing or two about addiction it's the Americans.
“Addiction is best understood as a complex, chronic brain disease that involves compulsive use despite harmful consequences, rather than just a simple habit or choice. It stems from a combination of genetic, environmental, and experiential factors that alter brain circuits, particularly those related to reward, stress, and self-control, making the behaviour deeply entrenched and difficult to stop. While the brain's rewiring of circuitry can be seen as habit formation, the underlying changes in brain function are characteristic of a chronic disease".
So, I read that addiction starts as a behavioural habit but as time goes on the deleterious effects of the behaviour, including actual chemical infusions, then cause brain changes so the habit becomes the disease. The experts continue.
Addiction as a Disease
So that’s all a bit cart before the horse and I reckon that we need to look at instigating habit to explain subsequent addiction.
How Addiction Forms (The Habit Component)
But wait. What is a habit. Britannica kindly instructs - habit, is in psychology, any regularly repeated behaviour that requires little or no thought and is learned rather than innate. A habit—which can be part of any activity, ranging from eating and sleeping to thinking and reacting—is developed through reinforcement and repetition.
James Akin-Smith asks us - What is the 3-3-3 rule for habits?
According to this rule, making something a habit often works in sets of three. The first three days may feel difficult, but once you reach the fourth day, it starts to stick. This pattern extends to weeks – get through three weeks, and by the fourth, it feels like part of your routine, and then the three month mark solidifies the concept in your brain.
James Akin-Smith › creating-good-habits
Ok so we have discussed the “normal” types of addictions being those that cursed my family. So just out of curiosity I wonder what are the strangest addictions known to man and good old Gemini AI assisted there with, Strange addictions can involve behaviours like compulsive hair pulling (Trichotillomania), inhaling the scent of gasoline, eating non-food items (pica), or excessive internet, gaming, or pornography use. These can manifest as behavioural addictions, where individuals develop a compulsive need for an activity despite negative consequences, similar to substance addictions.
Then I started to play with AI by asking what nations have the highest drug addiction.
In 2019, the top 20% of countries with the highest DAILY rates due to drug use disorders were:
Ok so what about which is the biggest addiction in the world?
Alcohol Use Disorder: most prevalent addiction; 2.6 million global deaths annually. Nicotine/Tobacco Use Disorder: kills > 8 million people each year; 1.3 billion users. Cannabis Use Disorder: ~30 % of regular users meet CUD criteria; 52.5 million U.S. users in 2021. (15 Aug 2025 Valley Spring Recovery Centre)
Back to the question about why my two sisters were untouched by addiction as opposed to the males in my family and sure enough it’s a man thing according to the AddictionCentre.com. Typically, men are more likely to abuse illicit drugs and alcohol – 11.5% of boys and men over 12 have a substance use disorder, compared to 6.4% of women and girls. However, women are more likely to go to the emergency room or fatally overdose due to substance abuse.
And on the third day of my research into addiction I suddenly realised that I was forming a habit and that habit was turning into an addiction and so before my brain changes, I conclude this blog to go and find a mirror.
Regards Magnum
(Mirror Addict)
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