This dependence turned into a debilitating addiction.

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"My entire energy plan will produce three times the oil savings that John McCain's ever could -- and what's more, it will actually decrease our dependence on oil while his will only grow our addiction further, " he said.

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Ms Sandford said that if addiction to smoking was a mental, as well as a physiological, dependence then it was logical that anti-depressants could could play a role in helping smokers to quit.

BBC: Smoking

In September, Hythiam received a patent in Mexico for its cocaine addiction treatment product and was granted a patent from the Europe Patent Office for its alcohol dependence product.

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These cases represent the dark side of addiction, certainly, but internet addicts with a milder version of the disorder might argue that their dependence is actually beneficial, since it lets them be more productive professionally.

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