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iQuestions Faculty, Dr. David Eckman 
 
 
Question: 
 
Are there hard and soft addictions? 
 
Answer: 
 
Addiction specialists make a distinction between hard and soft 
addictions, and it’s an important distinction that we should remember.  
 
Hard addictions are alcohol addiction, cigarette smoking, heroin use, 
anything that involves an injected or ingested chemical. Soft 
addictions have to do with workaholism, codependency— things that 
aren’t directly involving chemicals.  
 
The challenge with chemicals is that they alter the very structure of 
the mind. So, as you think about addictions, if you’re heading in the 
direction of heroin use, methamphetamine use, be super careful 
because they alter the very chemistry of the body. 
 
Addictions are dangerous, relationally dangerous, physically 
dangerous, no matter what direction you go into— but hard addictions 
are to be really avoided. If you’re finding yourself trapped in them, 
then immediately do an about-face, find a recovery group, find an 
accountability group, and really aggressively address those hard 
addictions. 
 
Soft addictions demand aggression, but when it comes to hard 
addictions, those things need to be taken with really great seriousness.  
 
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