The hooks of emerging addictions
YOU may be suffering from a form of addiction you are never aware of. Without the use of prohibited drugs, alcohol or gambling, one may be an addict. A new wave of addictive behaviors is emerging, and this column explores the concerning trends with a warning that we are into living styles that are not easy to break.
Simply put, addiction is a compulsive engagement in rewarding behaviors despite negative consequences.
Are you having an addiction?
“The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual” (5th edition DSM-5) states that substance use disorder involves patterns of symptoms caused by using a substance that an individual continues taking despite its negative effects. Based on decades of research, DSM-5 points out 11 criteria that can arise from substance misuse. These criteria fall under four basic categories — impaired control, physical dependence, social problems and risky use.
Those with addiction wish to control but they just cannot. They have intense cravings or urges, which they cannot control. They need more to get the desired effect (tolerance). They suffer from untoward experience (withdrawal) when they stop. They are spending much time getting into the habit.
Addiction becomes a mental health issue because productivity suffers as the addict tends to neglect responsibilities at home, work or school because of substance use. Addicts, however, continue to use the substance even when it causes relationship problems.
They give up important or desirable social and recreational activities due to substance use. They use substances in risky settings that put them in danger. They continue to use despite the substance causing problems to their physical and mental health.
While these apply to use of substances like drugs and alcohol, addiction applies well to activities and habits like gambling. There are some modern lifestyles that engage us in some forms of addiction.
The neurochemical symphony
It’s important to note that addiction is a complex disorder influenced by not just neurochemistry but also by genetic predispositions, environmental factors and psychological vulnerabilities. But addiction has a complex biological basis as there are neurochemicals playing a crucial role in reward, motivation and learning. These neurochemicals don’t operate in isolation but interact with each other, creating a complex network that underlies addiction.
Dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical, plays a central role in the brain’s reward system, reinforcing pleasurable experiences and motivating us to seek them out again. Addictive substances and behaviors hijack the dopamine system, triggering a surge in dopamine release thus creating a pleasurable sensation.
Glutamate, the brain’s primary excitatory neurotransmitter, plays a crucial role in learning, memory and sending signals between neurons. Addictive substances can increase glutamate release, enhancing the pleasurable effects and strengthening the association between the addictive behavior and the reward. Glutamate works in tandem with dopamine in addiction.
With repeated use over time, the brain adapts, requiring increasingly higher doses of the addictive substance or behavior to achieve the same dopamineglutamate rush. This phenomenon, known as tolerance, fuels the compulsive seeking of the addictive experience.
The brain naturally produces endorphins — opioid peptides acting as the body’s painkillers and contribute to feelings of pleasure and well-being. Some addictive substances, like opioids and alcohol, directly interact with the brain’s opioid receptors, mimicking the effects of endorphins. This can create a powerful sense of euphoria and pain relief, driving compulsive drug use.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the brain’s major inhibitory neurotransmitter, acts as a calming influence, helping to regulate emotions, anxiety and sleep. During addiction, the brain attempts to restore balance by increasing GABA activity to counteract the overstimulation caused by dopamine and glutamate. This can lead to feelings of withdrawal and anxiety when the addictive substance is no longer present, further fueling the urge to use again.
Several other neurochemicals, like serotonin and norepinephrine, also play a role in addiction. They influence mood, motivation and stress response, impacting the overall addictive experience.
Digital world
Social media platforms are designed to be highly engaging, using algorithms that personalize feeds and trigger dopamine release with likes, shares and comments. Studies show that there is correlation between excessive social media use and symptoms of addiction, including anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances.
Also in the digital world, the constant influx of news and information can be overwhelming, leading to a desire to stay updated even when the content is negative. This is referred to as doom-scrolling leading to information overload. Research suggests a link between excessive news consumption, and increased stress and anxiety levels.
Nomophobia (smartphone addiction)
Nomophobia, no-mobile phobia, is the fear of being detached from mobile connectivity. Smartphones provide constant access to information, entertainment and social connection, making it difficult to disconnect. Studies show that excessive smartphone use can negatively impact cognitive function, attention span and sleep quality.
Online gaming addiction
Online games, just like gambling, are designed to be highly immersive and offer rewards that trigger dopamine release, promoting compulsive play. Even the World Health Organization recognizes gaming disorder as a mental health condition, characterized by impaired control over gaming habits.
Binge-watching
Streaming services offer endless entertainment options, making it easy to fall into marathon viewing sessions. Studies suggest a link between excessive television viewing and increased risk of depression, anxiety and social isolation. Binge-watching is a symptom of a larger cultural malaise — our desperate need to escape from the anxieties of the present (Emily Nussbaum).
These emerging addictions result from the commercial designs that feast on the vulnerabilities of humanity to create rewarding experiences, even if it could be damaging. The addictions highlight the need for greater awareness and proactive measures. Developing healthy digital habits, setting boundaries and seeking help from professionals when needed are all crucial steps toward regaining control and achieving a balanced life.
But wait, there is more!
Vape: The new menace
We have a new menace — vaping! This is contributing considerably to the rise of coronary artery disease, cancers and strokes evident in June to October 2024 data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (Anthony C. Leachon).
Vaping, the inhalation of aerosol from electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), has become a growing trend worldwide, raising concerns about potential health risks. There are an estimated 82 million vape users worldwide (Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction, 2021), an increase of 17 percent from the previous year.
Some 2.7 million Filipinos belong to this group — 3 percent of the world’s vape users. There is a higher prevalence of the use of e-cigarettes than the use of any other tobacco products among Filipino students ages 13 to 15 (Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 2019). About 14.1 percent, or 1 in 7, students ages 13 to 15 said that they are currently using e-cigarettes. Overall, about 1 in 8 students of the same age group (12.5 percent) are currently using various tobacco products. One in four (24.5 percent), meanwhile, have tried using e-cigarettes (MDPI Journal, 2019).
Vape manufacturers and other vape advocates say vaping helps nicotine addicts as they try to kick smoking. But vape liquid contains nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco, and the nicotine in vape products is addictive as well, and with young people as the target, the addictive potential is worse because young brains are quicker to get hooked on psychoactive substances (Dr. Michael Tan).
Two primary ingredients found in e-cigarettes — propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin — are toxic to cells and the more ingredients in an e-liquid, the greater the toxicity. E-cigarettes produce a number of dangerous chemicals, including acetaldehyde, acrolein and formaldehyde. These aldehydes can cause lung disease, as well as cardiovascular disease. E-cigarettes also contain acrolein, a herbicide primarily used to kill weeds. It can cause acute lung injury and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and may cause asthma and lung cancer.
There is a consensus study report that reviewed over 800 different studies, and the report is clear: using e-cigarettes causes health risks. It concluded that e-cigarettes both contain and emit a number of potentially toxic substances (National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, 2018). There is evidence that youths who use e-cigarettes are at increased risk for cough and wheezing, and an increase in asthma exacerbations.
The public needs to be warned about the risks of inhaling secondhand ecigarette emissions, which are created when an e-cigarette user exhales the chemical cocktail created by e-cigarettes.
Secondhand emissions contain nicotine; ultrafine particles; flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease; volatile organic compounds such as benzene, which is found in car exhausts; and heavy metals, such as nickel, tin and lead (US Surgeon General and the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, 2016).
There isn’t a fixed timeline to break a habit. But science gives evidence that it could be from 18 to 254 days — average of 66 days. That should start today.