An addictus was a person who, having defaulted on a debt, was assigned to his creditor as a slave—hence addiction’s modern sense as enslavement to a habit.
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, Canadian physician, addiction expert and author Dr. Gabor Maté argues that all addiction is a case of human development gone askew. The book is based on Dr. Matés’ experience as a medical doctor in Vancouver’s drug ghetto and on extensive interviews with his patients”.
“The question is never “Why the addiction?” but “Why the pain?”
Addiction arises from out thwarted ability to ourselves, love others in the ways that we all need. Opening our heart is the path to healing addiction