Repetitive nasal spray use may be an addiction. However, it is unclear what positively reinforcing appetitive effects it elicits. Repetitive use does lead to spray-related preoccupation, loss of control, and undesired consequences. With most nasal sprays, there may be no direct effect on the central nervous system, though it does involve imbibing a substance (as does food). It shows features of substance and behavioral addictions. Studies are needed with relatively new but regular users, who begin to report some difficulties controlling use, to discern the extent to which nasal spray use subjectively improves mood, desired level of arousal, or cognition.
Steve Sussman (Wed,) studied this question.