In medical terms, an addiction is an inability to stop using a substance or engaging in a behavior in spite of negative consequences.
It’s notable that the Buddha described all of our attachments to sensations as something like an addiction. In his “Fire Sermon” (Ādittapariyāya Sutta, Samyutta Nikaya 35.28) the Buddha said we are burning with craving, with passion, with lust. Our sense organs, our mind, burn for stimulation. And this craving keeps us trapped in samsaric existence. Buddhism has many practices to help us develop insight into this craving, and with insight we can become non-attached, and liberated.
There are some relatively new addiction treatment programs that incorporate Buddhist practices like meditation and mindfulness to aid in returning to a healthful life. These are too new to know long-term success rates, but they show promise.
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