This is what I was taught in University is the defining trait of addiction: engagement in a behaviour despite the recognition that it leads to negative conseque

This is what I was taught in University is the defining trait of addiction: engagement in a behaviour despite the recognition that it leads to negative consequences. Personally, I think that this is enough to justify addiction as a true 'disease' that merits outside help. It takes a belief in some kind of strong definition of free will in order to maintain that people are suffering from character defects or should just pull themselves out of it at that point.