The Difference Between Drug Addiction & Process Addiction

Process Addiction is a relatively new way of describing an addiction to an activity, or a process, that does not involve taking brain-affecting substances such as cannabis, alcohol, cigarettes or hard drugs. The term Process Addiction covers addictions such as over-eating, compulsive shopping, the compulsive need for sex (sex addiction), or porn (porn addiction), compulsive gambling (gambling addiction), or compulsive computer game playing (computer game addiction).  Although Substance Addiction and Process Addiction describe two types of addiction, they are similar in many ways.

The only real difference between Substance or Drug Addiction and Process Addiction, is that being addicted to a physical drug carries the additional harm of the direct affects of the drug itself, in addition to the changes in the brain that happen with both types of addiction.

And certainly, both types of addiction cause similar harm to a person’s social and emotional life, and the lives of those around them.

All addictions, whether Process Addictions or Substance Addictions, involve similar malfunctions in the original, normal, neuro-chemical Reward and Gratification Systems of the brain that we are all born with.  Therefore, all addiction is fundamentally a mental health issue, no matter what type of addiction is involved.

It is never a moral weakness, or a lack of willpower, or because someone is basically ‘no good’, ‘weak’, or ‘bad’.

Cravings, Rewards, and Reduced Satisfaction

Studies have shown, that if the brain activity of non-addicted people is compared to the brains of those who do have an addiction, the Reward Centers in the brains of addicted people are abnormally over-excited at the thought of receiving the desired reward, compared with the lower (normal) level of brain excitement experienced by non-addicted people.

But also, when the ‘reward’ is actually received by someone with an addiction, the Gratification, or Satisfaction Centres in the brains of addicted people are much less ‘pleased’ or satisfied, than for non-addicted people.

So there are these 2 abnormal forces driving addicts to continue with their addiction:

  • vastly increased intensity of mental and emotional cravings
  • plus the need for more and more of the drugs or activity to get the level of satisfaction that they crave.

These factors are two of the main reasons why the hallmark of addiction is loss of control over behaviour, and it’s why it’s pretty much impossible for addicted people to control their addictions, even when they try.

If you have an addiction, your addiction has hi-jacked your brain and you struggle for control, but fail, constantly.

It’s an overpowering and accelerating downward spiral that often leads to depression, shame, humiliation, isolation and even suicide.

Addiction is hell

No one ever enjoys having an addiction

If you have an addiction of any sort, or you know someone who does, you will already know this from experience.  Addicted people will go to almost any lengths to gratify their specific needs.  And even though they know it will cause them personal harm, and distress to those who care about them, they seem powerless to control their behavior, even when they wish they could.

It makes little difference if it’s a Process Addiction to gambling, or shopping, or eating because of stress, or eating for no apparent reason at all – mentally, psychologically, and emotionally, it is no different to the compulsions that drive drug addiction and substance abuse.

Many people find it difficult to understand why a person with a Process Addiction doesn’t just stop doing the harmful activity.  They sometimes think that Process Addictions are not as difficult to control as drug addictions because there is no addictive substance involved.

While it’s true that drug addiction produces additional physical chemical dependency from the drug itself, the neuro-chemical and psychological processes in the brain that drive both types of addiction are real, visible on brain scans, and basically the same.

If you have any Questions or Comments

Please Contact Me by leaving a Comment in the reply box below



The Difference Between Drug Addiction & Process Addiction — 14 Comments

  1. I would like to thank you a whole lot for your work you have made in writing this piece of writing. I am hoping the same perfect job by you in the future as well.

    • Thanks Lynn, I’m glad you appreciate the information. I certainly intend to do my best to continue giving reliable and understandable information.

      Addiction is very difficult to understand by anyone, and particularly for anyone affected by it.

      But if the enemy can be understood, it makes fighting it easier.


  2. Pingback: Causes and Risks of Addiction

  3. Hey the things are much interesting. According to me, the word “addiction” usually brings to mind substance abuse. An individual with a drug addiction or alcohol problem might slowly fall apart over time. Medically speaking, when people speak of a person having behavioral problems, they are often referring to process addictions like gambling, hoarding or eating disorders. The signs of these involve any behaviors or rituals that are repeated over and over again, no matter what the final outcome is. Keep up the good work.

  4. Very enlightening article. When I went into substance addiction recovery 23 years ago, I was given a “no-no” list that included things like prescription meds, and any drug that would affect the brain, but I don’t remember hearing to much about process addiction. This will be very helpful because over the years I have discovered that many people with substance addictions either engage process addictions during their substance addiction, or process addictions emerge very shortly after recovery. If you go to any substance recovery meeting you will find three things: Coffee, cigarettes, and food(namely sweets) in abundance.

    • Hi Elaine, congratulations on beating your substance addiction. That’s not easy to do, and even when in Recovery, there are still temptations everywhere. Stay strong and best wishes.


  5. Pingback: Drug News and Information – America’s Meat Addiction

  6. Great description of process and substance addiction. I am in an addiction certification program at Capella University, this article helped greatly.The sad part is I fall into every category of the addictions you describe. I fight the cravings everyday of my life, with Gods good graces I will win. Thank you

    • Hi Alisa, sorry to hear you have troubles with addiction. And well done on studying anything – and studying addiction is a great way to understand ‘the enemy’ better – knowledge is power! Good luck with your efforts.

Leave a Reply


* Copy This Password *

* Type Or Paste Password Here *


CommentLuv badge