What is an
addiction?
Addiction is when the body or mind, badly wants or needs a substance, behaviour or activity to function. Often this substance, behaviour or activity has harmful physical and psychological consequences.
Addiction is considered both a complex brain disorder and a mental illness.
People can be addicted to many things. Drugs, nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, screens, gambling, are amongst the most common addictions.
Younger children are particularly vulnerable to being addicted to sugar and screen time.
Substance abuse may become a concern during the teenage years.
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