Also known as Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol Dependence and Alcoholism. Alcohol Addiction is the compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages at a level that interferes with physical health and mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities. Abrupt deprivation leads to severe withdrawal symptoms. The social problems arising from alcoholism are serious, caused by the pathological changes in the brain and the intoxicating effects of alcohol. Some social problems include the increased risk in child neglect and abuse, marital conflict, domestic violence, agressive behaviour, rape, public disorder, burglary, reduced judgement, drunk driving, assault, criminal charges, loss of employment and subsequent financial problems.

When an individual persists in the use of drugs or other substances, despite problems related to the use of the drug(s)/substance(s). Compulsive and repetitive use may result in tolerance to the effects of the drug(s)/substance(s) and withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped.

Problem gambling (ludomania) is an urge to gamble, despite harmful negative effects or wanting to stop. Problem gambling is often determined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others, rather than by the gambler's behavior. Severe problem gambling may be diagnosed as clinical pathological gambling. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), such an individual would have 5 or more of the following symptoms: 1. Preoccupation. The person has frequent thoughts about gambling experiences, whether past, future, or fantasy. 2. Tolerance. The individual requires larger or more frequent wagers to experience the same "rush". 3. Withdrawal. Restlessness or irritability associated with attempts to stop or reduce gambling. 4. Escape. The person gambles to improve mood or to escape problems. 5. Chasing. The person tries to win back gambling losses with more gambling. 6. Lying. The individual tries to hide the extent of his or her gambling by lying to family, friends, or therapists. 7. Loss of control. The person has unsuccessfully tried to reduce the extent of his/her gambling. 8. Illegal acts. The person has broken the law to obtain gambling money or to recover gambling losses. This may include theft, fraud, or forgery. 9. Risked significant relationship. The person gambles despite the risk of losing a relationship, job, or other positive opportunities. 10. Bailout. The person turns to family, friends, or others for financial assistance as a result of gambling.

When time spent in chat rooms, surfing the internet or playing games reaches such a point that it harms an individual’s family and social relationships, or disrupts school or work life. Like other addictions, the computer or game has replaced friends and family as the source of a person's emotional life. Increasingly, to feel good, the addicted person spends more time playing games or searching the Internet. Time away from the computer or game causes moodiness or withdrawal.

"Love addiction" is actually a misnomer. Genuine love is about building intimacy through honesty and sharing of oneself. A so-called "love addict" is a person who substitutes an unhealthy, mood-altering relationship for a healthy relationship with another person. This unhealthy relationship is then placed at the center of the person's life. Being in that relationship has clear negative effects on his/her life but he/she continues with the relationship regardless of the effects.

Retail therapy is shopping with the primary purpose of improving the buyer's mood. Often seen in people during periods of depression or transition, it is normally a short-lived habit. Retail addiction or shopping addiction should be considered a separate and serious problem. Oniomania (from Greek onios = "for sale," mania = insanity) means the compulsive desire to shop, more commonly referred to as compulsive shopping, compulsive buying, shopping addiction or shopaholism. As with all addictions, shopping becomes the person’s main way of dealing with stress, to the point where they continue to shop excessively, even when it is obviously having a negative impact on other areas of their life. Finances and relationships are damaged, yet the shopping addict feels unable to stop or control their spending.

Sexual addiction does not necessarily only involve the physical act of sex, it can be only fantasy too. A sexual addict spends excessive time obsessing about sex, or engaged in sexual activity, has sex with people they would not normally associate with, faces an increased risk of having dangerous & unsafe sex, experiences decreased inhibitions and an increased need for sexual gratification and could obsess about and fixate on 'taboo' sex, eg. adultery, cheating. Emotions range between feeling anguish, guilt, shame and despondency. Hypersexuality is an increasing need for sexual gratification, along with symptoms as described above, and is often a symptom of mania in Bipolar Disorder.