The question of whether or not addiction is a choice for an addicted individual is a matter of neuroscience and psychology, requiring a deep understanding of the human brain.
When a person first starts smoking or using an intoxicant, it is certainly a matter of choice; on the very first day, they do not smoke an entire carton of cigarettes—instead, they simply explore the sensation and find they enjoy it. The whole process begins with that sense of liking.
Neuroscientists Terry Robinson and Kent Berridge designed a framework known as the "Incentive Sensitization Theory," which was introduced in 1993.
This theory distinguishes between "liking" and "wanting." "Liking" provides pleasure, happiness, and relief, whereas "wanting" is the desire for more of that thing—or, to put it another way, it is when our brain gravitates toward that object and becomes hypersensitive to it.
Think of "liking" as our initial desire; however, when that feeling intensifies, it transforms into "wanting"—a state where we feel we simply can not do without it. The theory implies that we initially engage in behaviors—such as smoking or substance use—by choice; we start our own volition. Over time, however, it evolves into an addiction that hijacks our ability to choose. Eventually, even if our brain no longer derives actual pleasure from the activity, it still craves that very thing.Neuroscientists believe that as a person becomes addicted to a substance, the pleasure derived from it diminishes; the substance no longer provides the same gratification, yet the habit persists. As the saying goes, habits are formed when we repeatedly make the same choice; these repeated choices eventually shape our behavior.
It is exactly like becoming addicted to a beloved; initially, we may simply like them, but as we spend time together and create memories, they become an ingrained habit—someone we can not live without. We find ourselves unable to let go, and even if we do part ways, the memories linger in our minds. It is akin to how a simple liking can transform into deep, passionate love—a bond that becomes incredibly difficult to break.
The question arises: Can a person who initiated an addiction through their own choice and free will overcome it and break the habit? The answer is yes, absolutely—though it is not as if they will eliminate the addiction entirely in a single day.
Breaking any habit takes time; just as a palace can not be built in a single day or night, overcoming an addiction can not happen overnight either. It requires taking gradual steps. For instance, if you used to smoke a whole carton of cigarettes in a day, you would need to cut back the following day and adopt new and good habits.
You need to shift towards habits—positive ones—that you engaged in before smoking; for instance, you could spend more time with your family, socialize with people, or go for a walk where you can enjoy the greenery.There are many other solutions as well; for instance, you can visit a drug prevention or rehabilitation center to seek assistance. You can also engage in various activities that genuinely interest you. Ultimately, you are the best judge of how to improve yourself, as no one knows you better than you know yourself.
