History Main / AddictiveMagic

* In New Testament Scripture from ''Literature/TheBible'', the Greek word translated as magic and witchcraft is ''pharmakeia'' (φαρμακεία), which can also double for drug use.

* Sienna from ''VideoGame/VermintideTheEndTimes'' is a bit addicted to [[PlayingWithFire the pyromancy of Bright Wizardry]], making her a dangerous {{Pyromaniac}}. An invasion by a horde of [[YouDiryRat Skaven]] soon convinces [[TheWitchHunter Saltzpyre]], who is taking her to trial, to let her have her way with the [[ZergRush endless horde]] of murderous ratfolk instead. In ''VideoGame/VermintideII'', the Unchained class option sees her giving in fully to the addiction; her playstyle as an Unchained appropriately is at its best when she's [[CriticalStatusBuff just barely below]] a magic-induced HeroicRROD.

* Sienna from ''VideoGame/VermintideTheEndTimes'' is a bit addicted to [[PlayingWithFire the pyromancy of Bright Wizardry]], making her a dangerous {{Pyromaniac}}. An invasion by a horde of [[YouDiryRat Skaven]] soon convinces [[TheWitchHunter Saltzpyre]], who is taking her to trial, to let her have her way with the [[ZergRush endless horde]] of murderous ratfolk instead. In ''VideoGame/VermintideII'', the Unchained class option sees her giving in fully to the addiction; her playstyle as an Unchained appropriately is at its best when she's ''just barely'' below a magic-induced HeroicRROD.

* In ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', {{Fusion|Dance}} has the potential to become this, because it gives the user a PowerHigh.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer:'' [[FormerTeenRebel Giles's]] past as a demon-summoner was treated a bit like his hooligan/stoner phase--he himself describes it as an extraordinary high. Willow's subplot in season six was less subtle. It started with her abusing MundaneUtility and getting carried away with her rapidly-increasing power. It ended with her visiting an actual "pusher" who provided his customers with weird hallucinations. It was later subject to an AuthorsSavingThrow that denied that magic itself is addictive.

* ''Series/OnceUponATime'' has the two main villains, [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Regina]] and [[MagnificentBastard Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold]] and both are addicted to their dark magical powers. Rumplestiltskin's dark magic [[EvilMakesYouUgly has made his skin turn a weird greenish gold with gold eyes]] after becoming the dark one, though Regina has still maintained her looks, she has a more cruel look to her than before she turned to dark magic. Archie Hopper (Jiminy Cricket) told Regina that starting the magic was always easier than stopping.

* In ''Disney/FrozenII'', as Elsa hears the mysterious calling voice in "Into the Unknown" she keeps trying to ignore it, but its allure is too much for her to resist. Grand Pabbie warns Anna to watch over Elsa, as she may lose herself in the allure of magic during their journey. [[spoiler:When she's in Ahtohallan and finds magical representations of the past, she goes too far in pursuit of finding more and dies before being revived later.]]

* ''Literature/SchooledInMagic'': Necromancy addicts its users, while slowly driving them mad too.

* In ''FanFic/SeventhHorcrux'', Harry, in order to avoid being controlled by the Imperio, regularly imperios himself to do whatever he wants. When Hermione finds out and forces him to stop, he goes through withdrawal.

* In ''Film/TheCovenant'', the Sons' magic is not merely highly addictive, but drains their vitality and [[CastFromLifespan prematurely ages them the more they use]]. This is only after their 18th birthday, though. Before that, their magic is much less powerful but is also a freebie. However, if they're not careful, they'll get hooked and be unable to stop. [[spoiler:This is what happened to the protagonist's father and to the BigBad, who has to resort to stealing other Sons' magic to keep himself young]].

[[folder:Videogames]]

* ''Literature/VillainsByNecessity'': Use of a Dark Portal is both addictive and corrupting to the user.

* ''Literature/GuardiansOfTheFlame'': It's stated explicitly to resemble cocaine addiction--a little bit every now and then is okay, but use too much and it's a steep, quick decline into obsession, madness, and bad hygiene. Demonstrated with [[spoiler:Andy-Andy]], who keeps to a slow, safe, gentle progression, until [[spoiler:Karl]] dies, at which point she takes a [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope flying leap off the slippery slope]]. [[spoiler:Subverted in the end - given the choice of sacrificing her sanity or ability to do magic for enough power for an epic spell, she chooses the latter. She does, however, display symptoms of catastrophic cold-turkey withdrawal afterward.]]
** This may be the entire motivation of [[spoiler:Arthur Deighton/Arta Myrdhyn]].

* ''VideoGame/BioShock1'' has a variantion of "the substance that grants magic is highly addicting." Specifically, the population of Rapture discovered that a substance in sea slugs, Adam, could grant the user superpowers to [[MundaneUtility to use around the house]]. However, Adam itself was highly addictive and eventually causes insanity.

* In New Testament Scripture from ''Literature/TheBible'', the Greek word translated as magic and witchcraft is ''pharmakia'', which can also double for drug use.

* Spirit fillings in religious circles, like in modern-day Christian revival gatherings, serve as a real-life form of addictive magic, even to the point where the recipients express the feelings like they're having an orgasm. Although it is possible that there really isn't any magic involved at all and the people are just caught up in the emotionalism of a placebo effect.

* In ''[[Fanfic/{{TheirMidnight Revels}} Their Midnight Revels]]''While Edith Crawley and Thomas Barrow do not show all the signs of a parallel drug addiction, some of the syptoms of this trope still apply: such as expanded thoughts, uncontrollable inhibitions, heightened senses, and rapidly changing emotions, particularly rage, anxiety, and depression. Plus their behavior after they return from Faerie the first night mirrors the behavior of a drug user coming down from a high.

* In New Testament Scripture from ''Literature/TheBible'', the Greek word used for magic and witchcraft is ''pharmakia'', which can also double for drug use.

* Channelers in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' must be careful not to hold on to the One Power too regularly. Doing so can encourage a person to draw in more and more. Left unchecked, a channeler can overtax their abilities and burn out the ability to channel or even kill themselves. Fortunately, a slight exercise of will can control the desire to channel excessively.
** Using the True Power is even more addictive; using any noteworthy amount of it nearly guarantees that a person will eventually overdraw and die even more messily than if he had done so with the One Power.