Comics to prevent behavioral addictions
The Spanish Confederation for Mental Health has launched three comics aimed at young people to raise awareness and prevent behavioral addictions that can trigger mental disorders. These comics are: One More , focused on preventing gambling addiction; Between Two Worlds , centered on alcohol and drug addiction and their relationship to mental health; and Next Level , focused on video game addiction.
For the organization, comics are a "format capable of reaching this audience, promoting their learning, inviting them to reflect, and sharpening their critical thinking about these behaviors." One of the difficulties in reaching younger audiences also lies in the fact that activities such as gambling, internet use, and video games are widespread in our society.
The comics feature young people with whom other young people can easily identify: In One More , a young man starts frequenting betting shops and, motivated by a streak of good luck and the influence of his group of friends, ventures into online betting until he loses everything and enters a spiral of losses and anguish from which he doesn't know how to escape. In Between Two Worlds , another young man succumbs to drug use. The comic explains the relationship between substance abuse and the development of a mental health disorder; and in Next Level , a young woman realizes she has a video game addiction and how it affects those around her.
Youth at risk
Several reports have shown an increase in behavioral addictions during and after the pandemic . At the national level, the 2021 Report on Behavioral Addictions, from the Spanish Observatory for Drugs and Addictions, detailed that 20.1% of students aged 14 to 18 gambled with money in the last year (in person, online, or both), and 85.1% played video games. The 2021 Monographic Report on Behavioral Addictions, carried out by the Public Health Agency of Catalonia (ASPCAT) , also reported an increase in the prevalence of a possible video game use disorder: from 13% to 15% in boys and from 2.6% to 3% in girls. An increase in the prevalence of compulsive internet use (social media, instant messaging, TV series, and movies) was observed: from 21% to 22% in boys and from 27% to 32% in girls. Meanwhile, a decrease in the prevalence of gambling addiction was seen: from 8% to 5% in boys. For girls, it remained at 2%. This decrease is related to the suspension of sporting activities, and therefore betting, during the pandemic, but these usage figures are still relevant considering that the prevalence among boys is lower, and therefore the figure should be close to zero.
Behavioral addictions involve a dependency that affects the daily life of the affected person, over which they lose control. We speak of a dependency when gambling, internet use, or video games take precedence over situations considered more important to the young person. Their use becomes paramount and is associated with serious consequences for the individual and their environment.
Protective factors and risk factors in young people
As part of this campaign, the Spanish Mental Health Confederation has also published an infographic aimed at families and professionals in educational and leisure settings , indicating protective and risk factors in young people regarding substance or behavioral addictions.
Strategies for protecting against substance or behavioral addictions in young people
- Maintain healthy lifestyle habits (diet, sleep, exercise) and leisure activities.
- Having healthy relationships with caregivers and positive discipline at home and in the classroom.
- Facilitate community networks so that they have support tailored to their needs.
- Reasonable use and management of technologies and the promotion of responsible leisure.
- Social skills training and awareness of the consequences of drug use.
- Establish clear boundaries and apply conscious discipline.
- Having motivating and healthy leisure options.
- Promote positive values in society.
- Equal access to resources and services
- Community belonging and strong social ties
Warning signs of video game addiction
Risk factors in young people regarding substance or behavioral addictions
- Normalization of alcohol consumption.
- Lack of connections and role models at home and in the educational environment.
- Belonging to groups that may be in a vulnerable situation: women, migrants, LGBTI+, people with disabilities, people in poverty.
- Provision and standardization of technological means and resources.
- Availability of drugs and proximity to other young people who use them.
- Substance abuse and dependence (alcohol, drugs, medications) by caregivers.
- Normalization of betting shops as a leisure option.
- Normalization of sedentary and nighttime lifestyles and unhealthy beauty stereotypes.
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