[JumpCrisscross]

> it seems likely this is going to be true with other addictions as well such as alcohol

Why? We need to eat. We don't need to drink.

Removing alcohol for a year or more could allow both the body and environment to be adapted to a point where it is no longer presented in the same way.

[ewoodrich]

Agreed, speaking from experience taking a long break from alcohol does wonders to reset the brain’s idea of what’s “normal” plus the simple act of just disrupting an engrained habit.

Won’t be the case for everyone but I think even taking it for a limited amount of time could do a lot for a certain type of excessive drinker.

[bigyikes]

i’m not sure whether there’s any physiological basis for this, but subjectively having an addiction feels a lot like having an additional need in the same vein as hunger and thirst. The addict’s mind is convinced it does “need” the substance.

[baq]

It’s worse than that for e.g. alcohol and opiates. The organism lets the addict know in no uncertain terms it needs the substance. It’s not a choice the mind does unless you’re a zen master or something.