Without substance there is also addiction
Behavioural addictions have in common that there is no intake of any intoxicating substance; however, their symptoms are just as severe as any dependence.
In the 21st century, addictions no longer focus only on behaviours derived from the consumption of toxic substances such as cannabis or tobacco. There are also behaviours that can lead to addiction in which other aspects come into play and where there is no intake at all.
Behavioural addiction is related to specific behaviours or activities, as in the case of gambling disorder and, in recent years, online video game addiction disorders. This type of dependence also includes addiction to social networks, sex and work, among others.
The main characteristics of these behaviours, beyond the non-use of substances, are: loss of control, psychological dependence and the interference in leading a normal life. This can also lead to a loss of interest in other hobbies or activities that were previously pleasurable.
Main behavioral addictions
Gambling addiction
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One of the greatest dangers is that gambling is becoming a normalised leisure activity among adolescents and young people. According to government surveys, in 2019 and 2020, 63.6 % of Spanish people aged between 15 and 64 had gambled money offline at some point in the last few months. This is a notable increase in this behaviour, which in 2017 stood at 59.5%.
Linked to this practice, the online gaming sector is also growing. When gambling becomes the centre of a person’s life, they are constantly thinking about how, when or where to get the money to be able to gamble, and they are unable to stop despite the negative consequences of these habits, such as damaging their family, work and personal relationships.
Social Network addiction
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Internet and social media addiction happens when someone is unable to keep up with the normal daily rhythm due to excessive and, above all, uncontrolled use of the internet. This addiction includes shopping, surfing, online games or social networking, among other distractions.
According to a study carried out in Spain, only 1.5 % of young people aged between 12 and 17 have an internet addiction, a figure that is much lower than in countries such as China, Taiwan or Korea, where the percentage of people with this problem is as high as 30 %. The estimate, however, is that 21.3 % of Spanish adolescents are at risk of developing an addiction of this type due to the time they already spend surfing the net. In fact, a significant proportion of this sector spends more than two hours a day connected to a social network.
Sex addiction
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In 2018, the World Health Organization added compulsive sexual behavior to its international classification of diseases. Commonly called sexual addiction, this disorder is characterized by the frequency and intensity of sexual relationships, but also of fantasies and cravings to conceive the act.
This behavior can manifest itself in several ways, such as through promiscuous relationships, sexual encounters with strangers, use of pornography or erotic telephone lines. In these cases, the main treatment is usually based on cognitive behavioral therapy with which to learn restructuring techniques, avoid risky situations or identify circumstances of danger.
Work addiction
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Many employees spend too many hours and too much energy on working and they do it compulsively. This has negative consequences for their jobs and their personal life. Workaholism is sometimes masked under a high level of responsibility, sacrifice or dedication, but it is still an important mental problem that needs to be correctly diagnosed.
This disorder can affect health in different ways, such as increasing cholesterol levels, favouring the development of heart or sleep disorders, and leading to hair loss or extreme fatigue.
