Correlation Between Addiction and the 7 Deadly Sins
By Dennis Bishop
Addiction is a complex experience. Those who have lived it—and those who have walked alongside addicts in recovery—will agree that the costs usually outweigh the benefits. While addiction may offer fleeting pleasures, its long-term impact erodes health, relationships, and dignity. One powerful way to understand addiction is by examining it through the lens of the seven deadly sins.
The 7 Deadly Sins & Addiction
These age-old vices mirror the destructive patterns addiction creates in daily life.
1. Pride
Pride is often called the root of all sin. In addiction, it appears as the “I’ve got this under control” mindset. The addict resists help, convinced of their ability to manage what has already overtaken them. Pride fuels denial, rebellion, and isolation. True recovery begins with humility—the willingness to admit powerlessness and accept help.
2. Sloth
Sloth isn’t just laziness; it’s neglect of responsibility and personal growth. Addiction drains energy and motivation. Work performance drops, duties are abandoned, and spiritual life often fades. Many addicts withdraw from community or faith spaces, sinking into a cycle where life becomes centered only on the next high. Over time, this leads to mediocrity, broken relationships, and poverty.
3. Envy
Envy creeps in as addicts compare themselves to others—the stable co-worker, the thriving family member, the friend with steady progress. These comparisons deepen feelings of inadequacy, bitterness, and self-pity. Envy magnifies low self-esteem and creates a distorted lens where everyone else seems ahead while the addict feels left behind.
4. Greed
Greed in addiction is relentless but narrow. It’s the obsession with getting “just enough” for the next drink, fix, or bet. The hunger never ends. To feed it, many addicts resort to manipulation, stealing, lying, or even more dangerous activities. This endless cycle destroys integrity and leaves a trail of broken trust.
5. Gluttony
Addiction thrives on excess. Whether alcohol, drugs, gambling, or pornography, the motto becomes: “One is never enough.” Money disappears, substances are consumed recklessly, and moderation is a foreign concept. Even food becomes tied in—many substances trigger uncontrollable eating or drinking. Gluttony reflects the absence of self-discipline, leaving chaos in its wake.
6. Wrath
Anger becomes both shield and weapon. Addicts lash out when confronted, blame others for their failures, or seethe with resentment at those who seem judgmental. Wrath isolates addicts further, creating conflict with family, friends, and co-workers. What begins as a defense of addiction often ends in broken trust, violence, or self-destruction.
7. Lust
Lust manifests in risky sexual behaviour—casual sex, infidelity, pornography, or even prostitution. While some substances reduce libido, many fuel reckless choices that expose addicts to disease, trauma, and deeper shame. Lust, like other vices, promises escape but leaves devastation.
Conclusion
The seven deadly sins aren’t just abstract moral lessons—they’re real patterns that addiction intensifies. For someone in recovery, identifying these vices is the first step toward replacing them with virtues like humility, discipline, patience, and hope. For functional addicts or those drifting toward addiction, noticing these red flags early could prevent a downward spiral.
Recovery is a lifelong journey. But with the support of family, friends, counselours, spiritual leaders, recovery fellowships (such as Journey to Freedom or AA), and healthcare professionals, change is possible. Every step away from these vices is a step toward freedom, dignity, and a fuller life.
About the Author:
Dennis Bishop
Dennis Bishop is a Sobriety and Addiction Recovery Support Coach, Mental Health Advocate, Accountant, Enterpreneur, Business Development Executive and now a regular contributor to Mwangaza Wa Sunday’s articles series on addiction and mental health—designed to inform, educate, and inspire change.
With professional experience in business and finance, and personal experience as a recovering addict, Dennis bridges two worlds—helping people reclaim their lives while building strong foundations for the future.
Contact Dennis: +254 743 375 865
“Sobriety gave me back my life, and the best way I can honour that gift is by helping others find theirs.”
Dennis Bishop
