On Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:37:18 GMT, "Michael \"Dog3\""
> wrote:

>Dave Smith >
: in rec.food.cooking
>
>> AFAIAC, physical dependence is highly over rated. I think that it is
>> the behaviour that is addictive and the trick to rehab is to deal with
>> the behaviour.
>
>I will respectfully disagree with you on this one. While I agree
>behaviour plays a minor role in addiction; I firmly believe there is a
>chemical imbalance in the brain of alcoholics and drug addicts. I also
>believe there is a genetic relationship in addiction.
>

well, there sure as hell are withdrawal symptoms with alcohol, and
less so for nicotine. i think that's the medical definition for
addiction.

how the addiction *begins* is where your heredity and 'behavior'
arguments belong. in the case of alcohol, i would argue it's akin to
an allergy, since many people drink without becoming alcoholics.

your pal,
blake