An overview of professional theorization regarding addiction is presented. Although multiple schools of thought prevail concerning addiction, the primary focus is on the biopsychosocial model developed by Donovan. In keeping with observations of many social scientists involved in studying addictive and excessive behaviors, the biopsychosocial model proposes that such behaviors are actually diverse manifestations of obsessive-compulsive disorders that share similar etiologies and origins. Popular culture narrative are introduced that are representative of current cultural understandings of addiction. Similarities and differences between socially constructed accounts of addiction and those constructed by social scientists are explored, especially in terms of their ramifications for the cultural identification and treatment of addicted persons. The author describes the intermingling of etic and emic perspectives that her dual status as a social scientist and as a recovering drug addict has brought to her life. Addition is discussed in terms of brain chemistry, nature, and nurture. 30 references and 8 notes