Addiction is an emotional response to pain

From the BBC News IDEAS Studio: Author Gabor Mate suggests that dealing with trauma is the key to dealing with addiction.  Do not ask what is wrong with you. Ask what happened to you? If we can address the underlying trauma we can get at the reason for the addiction.

Dealing with trauma is addressed by Dr. James Gordon in his book The Transformation: Discovering Wholeness and Healing After Trauma.

Healing after trauma with Dr. James Gordon - 25 minutes