NOTE: These are only a set of typical examples. Absolutely any substance can become an addiction if someone doesn’t pay attention to diminishing returns, and the mechanism of addiction fits into most aspects of lifestyle.
Drugs and mind-altering substances:
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Analgesics
- Dextromethorphan
- Loperamide
- Caffeine
- Coffee
- Tea
- Energy drinks
- Nicotine
- Cigarettes
- Cigars
- Chewing tobacco
- Snuff
- Street drugs
- GHD
- Hallucinogenics
- Khat
- Kratom
- Cannabis/weed
- MDMA
- Methamphetamine
- Cocaine
- Crack cocaine
- Inhalants
- Paint, paint thinner, spray paint
- Gasoline, butane, lighter fluid
- Glue
- Alcohol
- Prescription drugs
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Opioids
- Stimulants
- Z-Drugs
- Other drugs
- Anabolic steroids
Ritual activities:
- Cultural activities
- Cars
- Religious events
- Recovery groups
- Concerts
- Eating
- Anorexia
- Bulimia
- Orthorexia
- Compulsive overeating
- Sugar
- Fast food
- Exercise
- Drinking
- Ritually drinking
- Shotgunning drinks
- Bars/pubs
- Wine tasting
- Media and stories
- Books
- Emails/web browsing
- Movies/TV
- Binge-watching
- Pornography
- Smartphone use
- Social media
- Infinite scrolling
- Attention-seeking
- Video games
- FPS games
- MMO gaming
- Celebrities
- Thought leaders
- Consumerism
- Advertised fashions
- Hoarding
- Vacationing/traveling
- Smoking/smoke breaks
- Spiritual/religious rituals
- Technology use
- Talking
- Work
Excitement/Risk:
- Fire (pyromania)
- Gambling
- Casinos
- Lottery tickets
- Investing
- Lying
- False lifestyle maintenance
- Fear
- Horror movies
- Watching news
- Pain
- Cutting
- Inflicting pain (sadism)
- Receiving pain (masochism)
- Relationships
- Love/Romance
- Sex (nymphomania)
- Friendships
- Family connections
- Spending/shopping
- Online shopping
- Bargain-finding
- Sports
- Extreme sports
- Racing sports
- Theft (kleptomania)
Thoughts:
- Anger (rageaholic)
- Conceit
- Self-abased conceit (e.g., false humility)
- Fear
- Political anxiety
- Doomsday preparation
- Hope (even if it’s false)
- Sadness
- Depression
- Grief
- Philosophy
- Certainty
- Hopelessness (i.e., post-modernism)
- Planning
- Spiritualized thoughts
- Success
- Understanding
- Collegiate education
- Science
- Trade-specific learning
Safety:
- Accumulating wealth
- Accumulating possessions
- Purchasing new possessions
- Acquiring social status
If you want to learn more about fighting the misery that feeds into addiction, check out this guide, or check here to understand the mechanism behind addiction in general.