Addiction, whether it be drugs, alcohol or gambling, is a major problem in Irish society. Stephen Rowen, Clinical Director of the Rutland Centre discusses various types of addiction and looks into some of the core reasons why people might become addicted.

Human nature being what it is, seems to result in our finding some sort of fascination with the horrors and ugliness concerning the dark side of life. And this includes our strong interest in Ireland's significant problem with specific chemicals such as alcoholism, drug addiction and also our less well-understood struggles with "drugless addictions" (sometimes called process addictions), such as compulsive gambling, sex addiction, compulsive shopping and so forth.
Addiction, whether in its more familiar form such as alcoholism or in its more modern form - such as compulsive gambling on the internet -- is always a hugely painful and destructive process, so much so that some would argue that it is Ireland's greatest social problem.

Media coverage on this issue usually highlights chemical dependency in the form of alcoholism or addiction to everything from illegal street drugs to across-the-counter painkillers to misuse of medications available by prescription only.