Newer types of addictions pose a challenge to experts

Having been identified as substances that create dependence, there already are systems in place to deal with conventional addictions like alcohol, tobacco and even drugs. 

However, a framework is yet to be put in place to deal with newer forms of addictions like gaming, online gambling and social media – all of which fall under the category of behavioural addiction. Behavioural addiction is caused by activities which give the person a sense of ‘high’. 

It was identified years ago, but many among the modern day addictions were brought about with the advent of internet – gaming, social media, smartphone and screen addiction, to name a few. 

“Since internet came and triggered the blooming of gaming parlours and the like, we have been seeing lots of cases of gaming addiction. However, now, with a lot of data from around the world, it has come into the addiction classification. 

It calls for serious methods to keep a check on it,” said Dr S Mohan Raj, a consultant psychiatrist. 

The toll on the body is direct and immediate in the case of substance abuse, prompting more serious response from family members. The effect on a person is not very different in these addictions as well, warn experts. 

“It is termed an addiction when it goes beyond a particular time and interferes with one’s routine. Video game addicts play even up to 22 hours a day, not attending school, college or work,” added Mohan Raj. 

The vice-like grip of smartphone dependence itself is a serious cause of concern, say psychiatrists, pointing out how many, especially youngsters, were addiction to their gadget. 

“This addiction to smartphones forms neurological connections in the brain in ways similar to how people taking Oxycontin for pain relief experience opioid addiction. 

The excessive use of mobile phone creates a sense of loneliness and depression among the users when they are kept away from the gadgets,” said Shayanthani S, a researcher, who has done a study on behavioural addictions among youngsters in the state. 

“Over the course of my study, I came to learn that those addicted to smartphones, gaming, etc. suffer just the same as drug and alcohol addicts do. Persons addicted to gadgets tend to use these as replacement for human interaction, making them extremely lonely people,” she said. 

Pointing out gaming being named as an addiction by the WHO, she recalled the case of a youngster who was obsessed with it.

“If power goes off while he is gaming, he would get terribly stressed out and angry. Every day, the only thing he looked forward to was to get back home and start gaming. This continued until he met a psychiatrist,” Shayanthani said. 

Another affliction that the younger generation is carrying these days is the ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO). A major problem among teens and even college-goers these days, it is caused predominantly due to social media and can manifest itself in many ways — for example, after seeing pictures of a party they weren’t invited to, or noticing a group of high school friends they aren’t in touch with. 

When coupled with social media addiction, FOMO can result in extreme depression, say psychiatrists. Kavitha (name changed), a teenager who has been going to therapy for around five months, says her depression was borne out of constantly checking her Instagram feed until it became an obsession. 

“I had changed schools last year and had lost touch with my old friends. It may sound silly now but I was paranoid that they were going to movies or planning things to do without me. I was always refreshing my Instagram and Snapchat feed, to the point where it really emotionally affected me. I didn’t believe FOMO was a real thing until this started happening to me,” said the teenager who is now keeping her daily social media usage to a maximum of two hours. Even news can be addictive. 

“I have seen cases of people addicted to news – having to watch or read a news on every possible platform,” added Dr Raj. 

“First, we tell the person to monitor his usage. Only then would the addict know how obsessed he is and would be open to make changes,” said a doctor from the Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk. 

“Unlike addiction to various substances, medicines do not play a huge role in behavioural addiction. 

We need to motivate the addicts, make them develop a sense of guilt which helps them realise that there is a need to make amends,” he added. However, there is no proper system in place yet to treat such cases. 

With newer kinds of addictions and larger number of persons afflicted by them being reported, the healthcare providers are looking at more nuanced methods to ensure that these addictions are kept under check.