This section of the site will be of benefit to those who lives are affected by some form of addiction, whether that addiction is their own or somebody else's. Addiction can loosely be defined as a compulsion or habitual craving for something, and is almost always meant in the negative sense. Although we sometimes talk of an 'adrenaline junkie' who is 'addicted' to the 'rush' of participating in adventure sports like powerboat racing or skydiving but who nevertheless approaches his or her sport with  fitness training, mental preparation and a healthy respect for safety considerations, this is not the normal perception. The picture created in most people's heads when they hear the word 'addict' is often along the lines of a pathetic, toothless wretch in dirty clothes begging or stealing for their next 'fix' of a drug or bottle of cheap brandy. The truth is that most people addicted to something are like neither of the above examples. Indeed, it can be difficult to spot an addiction in other people...or even in yourself. It is still a fact, however, that even though most addicts will not end up on the streets, an addiction almost always leads to a negative impact on quality of life, financially, socially, mentally and physically. We will here take the opportunity to look at types of addiction and corresponding causes, symptoms, and treatment