Asking for opinion: can one transfer experiences with non-drug addictions (videogames, promiscuity, social nets, etc) to the substance-abuse kind? How similar are these?
I believe the most-essential factor is this: loss-of-control over the behavior in question.
IOW, when the behavior takes places in spite of the individual wishing to stop, or committing to stopping -- then it is almost certainly "an addiction". It is the behavior that is most important, not 'substances' particularly.
The trouble is that it is very, very difficult for someone to recognize AND admit that they are unable to control some aspect of their behavior.
Most of us will create elaborate explanations to avoid admitting (to ourselves mostly) that sometimes we window up in a situations where we are completely powerless to control our behavior.
I believe the most-essential factor is this: loss-of-control over the behavior in question.
IOW, when the behavior takes places in spite of the individual wishing to stop, or committing to stopping -- then it is almost certainly "an addiction". It is the behavior that is most important, not 'substances' particularly.
The trouble is that it is very, very difficult for someone to recognize AND admit that they are unable to control some aspect of their behavior.
Most of us will create elaborate explanations to avoid admitting (to ourselves mostly) that sometimes we window up in a situations where we are completely powerless to control our behavior.