The line you describe is quite blurred. A person without the "causes and conditions" for addictive behaviors can take a substance that is highly physically addi

The line you describe is quite blurred. A person without the "causes and conditions" for addictive behaviors can take a substance that is highly physically addictive, like nicotine, and still never have an urge to use it again. Most people know quite a few folks who have tried cigarettes once and only once. An addictive pattern originates as a survival resource - it starts out as a helpful coping mechanism: "X makes me feel better, helps me to get through life". It doesn't matter what it is - heroin, shopping, gambling, nicotine, etc. When someone starts taking the steps in their lives to learn new behaviors and break this cycle, the physically addictive properties of a substance are definitely relevant and need to be taken into consideration (consider things like alcohol or benzodiazepines which can have lethal withdrawal symptoms, depending on intensity / history of use, and will thus require medical support). Otherwise, the underlying treatment model will be identical. Also, consider that psychological symptoms can and will manifest as physical symptoms, and vice versa. I've witnessed incredible physical withdrawal symptoms as a result of unwinding "psychologically" addictive patterns like gambling or sex (night sweating, panic attacks, insomnia, GI issues, to name a few).