Are addictions to unhealthy substances a form of self-harm?

They can be if you let them get out of hand an addiction is exactly that you are addicted to something. It is a hard thing to break and if it is unhealthy it is in a sense self-harm

Addictions can cause harm to the body and mind. It is not a healthy coping mechanism. Therefore in my opinion it is a form of self harm

That depends on what you consider it. But techinically, yes. It hurts your psychological well being. I was an opiate addict for a while. I've been clean for many months but there are many triggers and relationships that broke as a result.

Yes, certainly are. Knowing that it is harmful to you and engaging in it anyway surely qualifies it as self-harm.

Yes as it is damaging your body unhealthy being the key word self harm is more than cutting. Using substances to help you get through the day is seriously harming your mind too

It could be in a way but addictions are more like illness. It is a symptom or something else really. It is similar to self-harm because you know it's a way to cope and feel better in the moment but at the long-term it is really bad for you.

Addiction to anything can be harmful to ones self. Most often addiction is formed as a way to ignore or numb the true thoughts and feelings we are having. Not wanting to face the reality of something in our past and or present. When we rely on something to numb those experiences we need to look at it as an open wound. Your substance abuse is just the bandage you cover the wound with, hiding and sheltering it from your view and the world. The bandage gets lose, the corners peel and eventually it falls off, exposing the open wound. You have a choice. Do you re-cover the wound with another temporary fix or do you decide it’s time to address it, care for it and allow it to heal. Self-harm comes in many forms, substance abuse being one of the leading. What you numb through your addiction won’t go away, you must acknowledge your pain and decide you want to heal it once and for all.