Cigarettes
So many people have become cigarette smokers, it doesn’t really seem like an addiction. Even with all the advice on health and the printed message on the cigarette packets about them being harmful to health, people still buy them and smoke them and gain a certain amount of pleasure in doing so.

Sniffing
This seems to be in the minority of addictions, though it seemed to reach its peak in the 1980’s. Many youngsters lost their lives through sniffing harmful substances. There are still some gluesniffers but they don’t get the media attention they have in the past.

Alcohol
Drinking alcohol is so widely accepted now that if one doesn’t drink it, people assume the non-drinker is either not drinking because of their religious beliefs; because they are a recovering alcoholic; because they are on some form of medication; because they are just plain miserable or because they are rather strange!

Drugs
In recent years the taking of drugs has come more out into the open. It isn’t a new problem by any means. History shows drugs have been used recreationally for over a century. In 1834, Britain asked China to dispose of its opium stocks.

The difference now is that all classes of people use drugs whereas in the past it was the upper and middle classes who used them. Presumably, they were the only ones who could afford them.

Food
In recent years eating disorders have gained media attention and the word bulimia has become a common part of our language. Dieting to excess has also been given a new name, anorexia nervosa. Like many other addictions this seems to start in the teenage years, but often carries on through adulthood. Sometimes the person is so convinced that they are fat they starve themselves to death.

Addictions to certain types of food are common but taken less seriously. Chocolate is a common one and even tomato sauce. We all know someone who has sauce on everything!

Sex
I personally don’t know anyone with this particular addiction, which is rather strange, as most men I know consider themselves as a bit of a stud. Most women I know won’t even admit to enjoying sex never mind being addicted to it. However, I have seen a couple of documentaries on T.V. about this addiction and someone somewhere is taking it seriously.

I still don’t know why some people become addicts and some don’t. I personally put it down to an addictive personality. I like to be in control of myself at all times.