ABSTRACT
One only has to look at the current ‘inflation’ of alleged addictions to see the dangers of scientifically literate people failing to point out the absurdity of some claims. Addiction used to have a strong physiological meaning: a substance or activity was craved in increasing doses and there had to be an element of intoxication for addiction to be diagnosed. Heroin was addictive, nicotine was not; it was considered to be a habit, hard to kick, but a habit none the less. But while it is commonplace to incorrectly misdiagnose nicotine as addictive in its proper sense, we now have internet addiction, chocoholics anonymous, and the pathology of scratch cards. Applying the medical label of addiction to bad habits, devalues the term and celebrates irresponsibility and victimhood.
