The word "addiction" refers to a state where a person has a strong, compulsive need to engage in a certain behavior or to consume a particular substance, despite negative consequences. This can relate to various things, such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, or even behaviors like gaming or shopping. It is characterized by a lack of control over the activity or substance and often leads to significant problems in a person's life.
The word "addiction" comes from the Latin root "addictus," which means "to give over, to devote." This Latin word is a combination of the prefix “ad-,” meaning "to," and “dictus,” meaning "to say" or "to declare." Over time, the term evolved in English to refer specifically to the compulsion towards certain behaviors or substances.