We aren’t usually aware of it, but idolizing addiction can lead to false worship. Idol worship is an ancient tradition, but it’s still alive and well in modern society. Whether it’s a reverence for money, fame, power, or addiction, people still often prioritize these idols over personal responsibilities or relationships. However, in extreme cases, this idol worship can lead to a spiritual and psychological need to rely on an addiction.

Addiction is a disease that affects millions of people worldwide, including those living in developed regions like the United States. When left unaddressed, addiction can be incredibly destructive – both to the person addicted and to those in the addict’s life. Unfortunately, though, it can be easy to fall into the trap of false worship when it comes to addiction. To those struggling, worshiping an addiction can be an extremely powerful comfort, a false security.

When idolizing addiction, it’s easy to get lost in the way it satisfies the craving or need to fill a void. To the survivor of childhood trauma who idolizes addiction, it could be a way to find escapism and avoid reality. To the addict stopping at nothing to sustain an addiction, it could be an obsessive focus on the temporary high that a drug provides.

When an idolized addiction progresses, it can easily become a false god. Once an addiction is idolized, it can replace things that may once have been held in higher regard, such as career goals or relationships. Suddenly, life revolves around the substance or behavior of choice. It takes priority over health, finances, happiness – any other priority in life.

Though addiction can appear to provide a false security, it can also be incredibly damaging and isolating. Those close to the addict may feel alienated and that the victimization of the addict is too extreme. Alternatively, the addict may feel betrayed or unsupported if those involved can’t understand the mental and physical strain addiction has on the sufferer.

The need to replace or hide one’s true identity is a symptom of false worship too. This could manifest in changes in behavior, such as secretive isolation or reckless activities. Ultimately, the addict can feel unable to cope with everyday life and will rely on the drug or behavior to create a false sense of strength and stability.

False worshiping an addiction can be incredibly damaging for all parties involved. It can also have serious long-term consequences when addicts don’t seek treatment. To prevent high-risk behavior or mental health diagnoses, it’s important to recognize when someone you love is idolizing an addiction. Seek help immediately to remove the false idolization from their life.

False worship of an addiction can lead to harmful physical and psychological consequences. It’s important to recognize when someone you love might be idolizing something in an unhealthy way, and seek help as soon as possible. Doing so can ensure the best outcomes for the individual and protect them from the long-term damage caused by false idolization.