Thinking Critically About: Tolerance and Addiction
Regular substance users develop tolerance, which contributes to addiction and disordered use of the substance. Other people may develop behavior addictions.
An addiction, often a substance use disorder, occurs as users come to tolerate a substance, crave more of it despite harm, and struggle to withdraw from use.
Some behaviors, such as gambling or internet use, can become compulsive and harmful and may develop into addictions. But most behaviors are not addictive.