Wen does use become addiction?
Such a good question!!
Use becomes addiction when a person can no longer control themselves.....addiction has taken over. Often.....the last person to realize that they are addicted is the addict themselves. They minimize the impact that their drug use has on their lives......to themselves and others. It's is addictive thinking at work. All addicts start out using drugs for fun or to self medicate......and it goes haywire. They can't stop. Eventually it's not for fun anymore......it's to maintain their "new normal". It becomes a crazy circle game....addiction is a disease of the mind, body and spirit.
So how do we know when a person is addicted? When there are negative consequences of their addiction that would cause someone who is not addicted to stop using. Negative consequences with relationships, work, school, the law, finances......losing possessions (or housing), pawning possessions. Unfortunately, with an addict, these negative consequences often cause them to crawl deeper into their addiction to get relief.
I'm sure others will come along to answer your question as well.
Welcome to SR......this is a great forum for support and a great place to gain understanding of addiction and codependence.
gentle hugs
ke