Types of Addiction
Many people see addiction as drugs, alcohol and gambling. However there is far more addictions than people realise. You may have an addiction and not know.
There are two main categories; Substance addiction and Behavioural addiction.
In this blog I will clarify what addiction actually is and how to identify it.
I will highlight the different types of addiction and talk about recovery options.
What is Addiction?
Addiction is where you keep doing something that is harmful to you and maybe to others but still keep doing it anyway. At first it may give you a temporary relief of something that is painful or difficult for you. As a result of these harmful actions there comes negative consequences, like; health, finance, relationships, danger, ill health and maybe possible death. Despite these negative consequences the urge is still there and these urges can turn into cravings and severe compulsions. Holding onto the addictive substance or behaviour means you are holding on to a destructive coping mechanism. Addictions help you avoid an emptiness within yourself or an unresolved trauma. It can help you cope with whatever that is for you.
According to (HSE, 2025) “Addiction means having a powerful urge to do, take or use something. This can be to a point where it is harmful to you or the people around you.”
According to (NHS, 2024) & (HRB, 2024) “Addiction is defined as not having control over doing, taking or using to the point where it could be harmful to you.”
According to (ASAM, 2019) “Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences.”
Lets look at Substance Addiction
A substance can be nicotine with cigarettes or vaping or cigars. We all know that cigarettes are addictive and it is not easy to say goodbye to the habit as it serves a purpose. That purpose could be to combat boredom, to help with stress, or to fit in with your peers. Some people may use weed or hash (I know there are many names for this). Not everyone is addicted to 
this, however it is still a drug that alters the brain and people can get addicted to it (DEA, 2020). I will do a blog separately to talk more about weed. Some people can be addicted to solvents such as glue, aerosols, petrol or lighter fluid (HSE, 2025).
Alcohol is a substance that people can be addicted to but not everyone gets addicted to this substance. There are people that are addicted to alcohol and don’t realise. A lot people think that alcoholics are people who need to have a drink everyday but that is a myth.
I will do a separate blog on the issue of alcohol and addiction.
Drug addiction can fall into two categories. There are the illegal drugs that you cannot get legally from the doctors like cocaine, ecstasy, meth, speed, heroin etc. However there is huge problem with prescriptions drugs being addictive for many people. These legal drugs can be given on prescription but they are also sought illegally. Either way that can be very problematic. Examples are opioids like OxyContin or Fentanyl or Morphine and Benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax.
Another addiction I would like to highlight is the addiction to sugar, fizzy drinks and energy drinks. Also one that many people don’t think of is food addiction. It is a very lonely addiction and brings a lot of shame, as do many addictions. Unfortunately like many addictions it can lead to serious physical and/or mental health problems and death in some cases.
Examples of Behavioural Addiction
Behavioural addiction is not always obvious. It can be more secretive and have severe consequences. We may see someone 
with the unhealthy behaviours but not recognise them as being an addiction. A very common addiction is our phones and social media to a point of not interacting with their children or partners and not being attuned to their environment and neglecting eating and not getting enough good quality sleep. Some are addicted to work, they can get burnt out, lack energy, neglect themselves and their loved ones and work is a constant obsession to a very unhealthy point. It may even affect their sleep and can lead to a breakup in a relationship.
Gambling is a very secretive and complex addiction with potentially extreme negative consequences; financially and in other ways like a breakdown of relationships or seriously affecting a person’s mental health. Gaming is a potential and dangerous addiction. There have been extreme cases of people falling very sick as a result of not getting enough nutrition, hydration and sleep. Extreme behavioural addiction has many serious negative consequences.
You may not have thought of this as an addiction but extreme plastic surgery is. There could be a very genuine reason why someone has plastic surgery on a particular area. However if the person keeps getting lots of plastic surgery and is never happy with themselves, this person has an addiction that they need help with. Some can be addicted to getting tattoos or piercings.
A very common addiction and troublesome one is sex addiction and pornography. People can be addicted to chaos and drama. What starts out for some is something healthy but can turn into an obsession and extreme behaviour like the gym and exercise and can lead to body dysmorphia. While I am on the subject of body image, I will highlight eating disorders as being an addiction, like anorexia nervosa and bulimia. A behaviour that is addictive and has negative consequences including possible death is a real difficulty for the person with this addiction and the loved ones that worry about them.
Shoplifting can be an addiction to a few people; they get an adrenalin rush and then come down and need more to get that euphoria. Hoarding is another addiction that has extreme negative consequences if a person does not get help and it gets out of control. Codependency is a very complex addiction, which I will talk about in another blog.
Recovery Options for Addiction
There are many recovery options for addiction. In fact it would probably take more than one to help. AA or NA or GA meetings etc. would be a good place to start for drugs, alcohol or gambling addictions. Alan-on groups are available for those who have loved ones with addiction issues. There are CODA online meetings for codependency. There are residential treatment centres. There are outreach options available with HSE.
There are great resources in books, podcasts, blogs and YouTube videos to educate yourself about addiction and recovery. But it is something that you cannot get a grip with on your own. You need support and genuine connection with people that will encourage you and not enable you and for people that will accept, understand and not judge.
A therapist is a great place to really get traction on your recovery. Recovery only starts with abstinence of the substance or maladaptive behaviour. It takes further work after that. A psychotherapist will be able to work with you at your pace through your unresolved trauma and help you find yourself without the need to have the crutch of addiction to cope with life.
References
ASAM, 2019. Definition of Addiction. [online] Available at: https://www.asam.org/quality-care/definition-of-addiction [Accessed 5th May 2026].
DEA, 2020. Drug Fact Sheet. [online] Available at: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Marijuana-Cannabis-2020_0.pdf
HRB, 2024. Addiction: what is it? [online] Available at: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24130/ [Accessed 5th May 2026].
HSE, 2025. Addiction and your mental health. [online] Available at: https://www2.hse.ie/mental-health/life-situations-events/causes-of-addiction/#:~:text=Addiction%20means%20having%20a%20powerful,or%20the%20people%20around%20you [Accessed 5th May 2026].
NHS, 2024. Addiction: what is it? [online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/addiction-what-is-it/ [Accessed 5th May 2026].