Addiction

Topic page on Addiction from the APA with definition and links. The APA is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, with more than 115,700 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members.

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Information, links, definitions and statistics for behaviorial addictions such as gambling, food, shopping, risky behaviors and video gaming. Descriptions of each behavior with links to sources.

Definition of addiction from the organization. ASAM, founded in 1954, is a professional medical society representing over 5000 physicians, clinicians and associated professionals in the field of addiction medicine. ASAM is dedicated to increasing access and improving the quality of addiction treatment, educating physicians and the public, supporting research and prevention, and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addiction.

The Society was founded as the Society for the Study and Cure of Inebriety in 1884. The mission of the Society is to broaden and promote the scientific understanding of addiction, and we particularly aim to help clinicians and policy makers get research evidence into practice. Links to information about types of addictions and SSA publications.

A division within the APA. SoAP Division 50 promotes advances in research, professional training, and clinical practice within the broad range of addictive behaviors including problematic use of alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs and disorders involving gambling, eating, sexual behavior, or spending. Membership includes a subscription to the peer-reviewed journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors and the newsletter of the Division.

Article which provides overview and thinking on the nature of addiction. By Morten Hesse, who is a practising psychotherapist and serves as Associate professor at Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, University of Aarhus (Sweden)