The lockdown situation experienced in Spain for several weeks is having repercussions on many levels. The most important is in health terms. The lockdown was implemented to reduce the possibility of Covid-19 transmission between people to the minimum possible. In this way, it is hoped to give a respite to hospitals and health professionals and thus avoid the collapse of the healthcare system. In view of the available information, the strategy has had results in that regard. That is the positive side of the lockdown. However, we also find economic and labor repercussions, results of the lockdown, which are clearly negative. They are two sides of the same coin.
With the quarantine period, people are forced to stay at home and for many, the responsibility of how to occupy their time is a challenge. It is evident that this situation has changed the pace of life for everyone, and adaptation to this new form of daily life is made based on many and varied circumstances. And in this context, sectors of the population appear who, from one day to the next, have discovered they are vulnerable or have seen problems they already had worsen dramatically.
The risks of addiction are projected in multiple situations. One must be aware that, for many reasons, the #StayAtHome movement can promote an increase in or relapse into an addiction. And among the most destructive and easily accessible addictions from home, gambling addiction finds bottomless pits for the time and financial resources of individuals and families in screens and keyboards of any size.
Experiencing lockdown as a danger
The quarantine situation has caused the closure of establishments of all kinds. This includes those betting shops where gambling addicts used to go. Now, however, they cannot access them and seek other methods to satisfy their addiction; online gambling is there to act as an escape valve first, and as a trap later. Online casino and poker have skyrocketed during the lockdown. One of the reasons explaining what is happening has to do with the mental state that many addicts or simple gambling enthusiasts are experiencing in their homes.
The consequences of the lockdown, mainly having to spend all the time at home, are affecting many psychologically. This situation is causing people at higher risk of addiction to be unable to correctly manage the anxiety and irritability produced by the situation… or withdrawal. This leads them to turn to online gambling as an escape from their current state. Other people find that, on one hand, they cannot play in person and, on the other, they are with family members who prevent them from playing online. The situation has resulted in an increase in calls for help to treatment centers for gambling addiction, because control is becoming increasingly difficult and coexistence is also clearly affected.
The search for help grows
Since the beginning of the lockdown, calls from people requesting online therapy for the treatment of gambling addiction have multiplied. Not only do the affected individuals call, but their family members do as well, in some cases desperate because they are observing an increase in the addiction or the beginning of a dependency attributed to the confinement. In this sense, the volume of online therapies via video call is also growing, both individual and group, as the only current way to treat the addiction with patients. To this must be added constant telephone support as a tool so that gambling addicts do not feel alone and potentially relapse.
The impact of advertising
In the current lockdown situation where all time is spent at home, it is common to spend more hours in front of the television or with mobile and laptop devices. This is causing these people to be more exposed to all types of online advertising. Even the youngest, who use the computer to do homework or play video games, frequently receive messages of this type. The result of the quarantine so far has been the appearance of new gambling addicts and the relapse of people who were in treatment.
Faced with this situation, the Government approved a decree a few days ago to limit the advertising of games of chance and online betting. This measure affects radio and television, as well as YouTube and other video-sharing platforms. The decree prohibits the broadcasting of this type of advertising throughout the day, with the exception of the slot from one to five in the morning. The Government argues this decision aims to protect the most vulnerable citizens from overexposure to this advertising. This measure will be in effect only as long as the state of alarm lasts, which may end on April 26.
In any case, the measure is a reflection of the rise of the problem of compulsive gambling, of the extent to which it is difficult to stay away from a constant temptation that is more accessible than any other occupation during a time of “confinement” in which there seems to be no need for order or rules.
More of a problem than an advantage
Instead of seeing the lockdown as an opportunity to quit their addiction, some patients experience it as one more obstacle. What they do is never stop thinking about how they can find a way to play again. On the other hand, many of those who manage to overcome the temptation to play are falling into other addictions, following the rule that “one nail drives out another,” which is not recommended in this situation. They may spend too many hours playing video games, shopping compulsively online, or consuming alcohol excessively. These attitudes can be explained because most players suffer from a disorder that involves compulsive behavior.
Another aspect that is making the lockdown very difficult for some players is the relationship with their family members. With the current situation, these people are forced to spend the whole day with their families, being aware that, in some cases, the destructive impact of their illness has been very high for the entire family. The tension in these homes is barely bearable.
Addiction not only generates a great sense of guilt but also resentment in the immediate environment. The general increase in aggression and discomfort in these homes makes telephone and/or online assistance and help more necessary than ever. At CCAdicciones, we have the best professionals to help people whose lives are being made impossible by gambling addiction. There is a way out, always.
