Gabor Maté

I'm saying everyone addicted was traumatized, which is a different thing.

But I've never known anybody.

who woke up one morning and said, my choice is to become an addict.

That's just nonsense.

And people are compelled into that path by forces they don't even understand.

But allow me to give you a definition of addiction.

Let's just try this on.

So addiction is manifested in any behavior in which a person finds temporary pleasure or relief and therefore craves.

So pleasure, craving, relief, that's the first criteria.

Second criteria is

These behaviors result in suffering and harm, and clearly people don't give it up despite the harm.

So pleasure, craving, relief, harm in the long term, inability or refusal to give it up in the long term.

I said any behavior.

That could be drugs, legal, like nicotine or alcohol.

It could also be the illicit drugs, cocaine, crystal meth, the opiates, of course.

But it could also be gambling, as I said before, pornography, sexual revolving, work, extreme sports, self-cutting, bulimia, shopping, eating.

Anything.

The criteria is, does it give you temporary pleasure or relief?

Does it cause harm?

Can you give it up?