Modern Conceptions of Addiction

In this chapter I briefly survey the current field of addiction studies. Framed around the questions: What is adiction?; What is addictive?; and, When is addiction?; this chapter highlights the points that addiction (a) as a phenomenon, does not exclusively relate to the excessive or problematic use of intoxicants, but can be considered in relation to a broad range of behaviours and pursuits, and (b) has an element of essential material existence and can therefore be considered transhistorically.