There must be something at work better than this dictionary.com df:

"the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma."

Does anyone know how to measure "severe trauma" ... a measurement those of us not sold on the dumb animal view of human nature can appreciate? I smoked for 10 years and quitting was unpleasant, but really, if what I experienced was addiction, I have to believe much of society is using the term to excuse a pathetic lack of self-control (in my experience, the problem was more a sorites paradox/procrastination problem than anything, which seems to be at the heart of any "addiction" notion: why quit now rather than tomorrow?).

I'm suspicious that all "addiction" arguments are silly, and that lawyers and judges are too prone to accept the dumb animal view of the cry-babies that put them on the deciders pedestal.

That's an interesting definition. You know, it makes me think of the "runner's high" that people who run allegedly experience. In fact, I've heard that regular runners, if deprived of their running due to bad weather, injury, a cold, etc. will start feeling depression if they don't get to run. Wow, sounds like an addiction to me! Guess we better start regulating running! After all, runners can injure themselves while running, and the medical costs of treating those injuries are certainly burdensome to those of us who don't run! And we sure don't want children to run, either, since they might injure themselves! Yes, we should definitely ban running for children!

Good point. Does that definition make everyone a sex addict too?