From Alcohol to Shopping: Why Some Addicts Never Stop Chasing Dopamine
You Might Be Guarding the Wrong Punch
Think of addiction like a boxing match. When someone enters rehab, they’re focused on blocking the obvious jab—their substance of choice. Whether it’s alcohol, opioids, or cocaine, they know it’s been hitting them hard. They brace themselves for the impact of withdrawal, therapy, and the work required to stay clean.
But what they don’t see coming is the shot to the kidneys—the unexpected addiction lurking just outside their awareness. It could be compulsive gambling, binge-eating, excessive porn use, or even a toxic relationship they can’t seem to let go of. And that’s the blow that knocks them out of the ring, leading to relapse.
This is the hidden reality of recovery: Addiction is rarely just about one thing.
The Addiction Substitution Cycle
When someone stops using drugs or alcohol, their brain still craves the rush it once got from substances. If that need isn’t addressed, the mind will find another way to get its fix. This is why so many recovering addicts unconsciously replace one addiction with another.
Here are some of the most common cross-addictions that catch people off guard:
Porn & Paying for Sex – Many in recovery find themselves turning to pornography or even engaging in risky sexual behaviors, chasing the same dopamine hit they once got from drugs.
Gambling – The high of risk-taking, the adrenaline rush—it’s eerily similar to the rush of substance use. Some addicts trade one thrill for another.
Shopping & Spending – Ever heard of retail therapy? For some, compulsive spending becomes a way to self-medicate emotional discomfort in early sobriety.
Fast Food & Sugar Addiction – Junk food triggers the brain’s reward system just like substances do. Many in recovery find themselves overeating to compensate for what they’ve lost.
Toxic Relationships & Love Addiction – Some replace their substance addiction with an obsession over a person. They become codependent, seeking external validation instead of working through their emotions.
These behaviors may seem harmless at first, but they fuel the same cycle of addiction—numbing emotions, escaping reality, and avoiding deeper healing.
Why Many Addicts Struggle to Stay in Rehab
This is also why so many people struggle to complete rehab. The program is designed to tackle substance abuse, but if the person hasn’t addressed their secondary addiction, it pulls them right back out.
A person detoxing from heroin might still be compulsively watching porn, reinforcing their need for quick dopamine hits.
A recovering alcoholic might start compulsive online shopping, avoiding the real emotional work of sobriety.
Someone coming off fentanyl might fall into a toxic, codependent relationship that distracts them from their recovery work.
They don’t realize it yet, but these behaviors keep them stuck. When rehab focuses only on the substance, it leaves the real knockout punch unblocked.
The Boxing Combo That Leads to Relapse
A fighter can take a jab to the face and stay on their feet. But it’s the well-placed shot to the kidneys that puts them down.
This is what happens a lot of the times in addiction recovery:
The jab (drug addiction) is the obvious problem—so that’s where people focus.
The knockout blow (a hidden addiction or emotional issue) is what really takes them out.
For example:
A man fighting cocaine addiction might seem fine—until a bad breakup hits, and he spirals back into using.
A woman in recovery from opioids might hold it together—until her gambling addiction wrecks her finances and triggers a relapse.
When people don’t recognize all their vulnerabilities, they leave themselves open to getting knocked down.
What Can Be Done?
The key to real, lasting recovery isn’t just quitting drugs or alcohol—it’s learning how to defend against the full combination of addiction patterns.
Self-awareness is crucial. Ask yourself: Am I just replacing one addiction with another?
Rehab programs must address more than just substance use. Without tackling all addictive behaviors, recovery can feel like an endless cycle.
Long-term success means working on the underlying issues, not just the most obvious problem.
Where Asana Recovery Comes In
If you or someone you love is struggling to stay in treatment, it might not just be about substance abuse—there could be another addiction pulling them away from success.
At Asana Recovery, we help our patients recognize all the punches that could knock them down—not just the ones they see coming. True healing means looking beyond just substance use and understanding the deeper patterns that keep people stuck.
If you’re ready to take your recovery seriously and protect yourself from relapse, reach out to our team today.
📞 Call Asana Recovery’s Admissions Team at (949) 763-3440.
Let’s fight for your sobriety—and win.
🎉 Trivia Time! 🎉
Mark Wahlberg plays Jim Bennett, a compulsive gambler and literature professor, in the 2014 movie The Gambler. The movie is a remake of the 1974 film of the same name, which was based on a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
What was Jim Bennett’s gambling driven by?🤔
As a follow-up, define the term that describes his mindset.
💡 Hint: Dostoevsky’s protagonist in The Gambler gambles to feel alive, but Bennett’s motivation is different.
✅ How to Enter:
Email your answer to david@asanarecovery.com for a chance to win!
🎁 Prize: A $15 gift card (Uber, DoorDash, or Amazon – winner’s choice!)
🏆 Rules: Only one winner will be chosen, and the selection will take place after 24 hours. Good luck! 🎲
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