It's not how much or how often you drink or take drugs that determines if you are addicted. To determine whether or not a person is addicted, consider the 3 C's: consequences, loss of control and compulsion. Early in the course of addictions, relationships are affected; family becomes concerned, and relationships become strained. The most important diagnostic sign of addiction is the fact that, once the drug dependent person starts using their drug they are never able to be completely sure how much they will consume. Unlike craving, compulsion is an unconscious drive. Compulsion to drink or use drugs means the drug-taking behaviour becomes of such a high priority that it crowds out or endangers other, previously important priorities.
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