Spain is a region of the world that, due to its status as a Mediterranean country, has a very special culture and lifestyle. Among these, there is a great appreciation and preference for celebrations and following the latest trends, which are often linked to drug use and excess. As a result, it has become a country with a high rate of addicted individuals among the population who, very frequently, end up being treated by addiction therapists and/or hospitalized so they can rehabilitate. This year has been extraordinary in every sense, and consequently, cases of dependency disorders have increased considerably above what was expected. Today we show you the most common addictions that have occurred in 2020 and how to avoid them going into 2021.
How Has 2020 Changed the Addiction Landscape?
2020 has been a period that, due to the entire series of events that have occurred related to the Covid19 pandemic, has become one of the most negative in recent years for the majority of the population. Events such as home confinement, remote work, the closure of public establishments, and perimeter isolation have elevated people’s stress levels, causing them to experience episodes of stress never seen before. As a consequence, many of them have ended up committing abuses regarding certain activities and falling into drug use as an escape route from an unpleasant reality.
If at a demographic level we were already starting from a concerning situation regarding addictions and dependency disorders, everything that has happened in 2020 has only increased the severity of this context. We are ending the year with an increase in cases of dependency disorders, a greater number of addicted individuals, an increase in admissions to dependency treatment centers, and the emergence of new types of addictions and behavioral disorders. In order to improve this landscape, today we show you the most common addictions in 2020 and provide you with some advice to avoid them in 2021.
The Most Common Addictions Among the Population This Year
The majority of addiction disorder cases that have occurred this year are related to the variation in lifestyle carried out by individuals and their consumption habits. That is, excessive time spent at home, daily routine, the search for activities to pass the time, etc. have been some of the causes that have motivated abuses and excesses in certain behaviors. Consequently, drug use and behaviors that generate dependency have appeared more often than expected, thus creating new addicted individuals.
These are the most common addictions experienced this year:
- Online gaming: The increasingly aggressive marketing campaigns and the mechanics of online games make this type of product something that very easily induces obsession. And, consequently, behavioral disorders that evolve toward addiction.
- Online betting: The gambling sector has had to evolve to avoid stagnation and being forgotten due to generational change and legal restrictions. As a result, online casinos are increasingly popular and the age of players is younger.
- Alcohol: Alcoholic beverages have been one of the great escapes of 2020. At the beginning of confinement, supermarket beer sales increased exponentially until stocks were depleted. Furthermore, the number of people drinking at home has also increased substantially.
- Cannabis: Although in Spain there is a lower number of addicts than in other countries, cannabis use is proliferating very rapidly, especially among young people and adolescents. The danger of this is the great lack of knowledge and ignorance toward this type of narcotic.
- Cocaine: This drug is one of the most widespread around the world and from which it is very difficult to escape. A single dose is enough to become hooked and unable to lead a normal life. This fact makes it one of the most dangerous.
Recommendations to Avoid Addictions in the New Year
The most common addictions are also the easiest to experience. Therefore, one must be very careful and always maintain a responsible attitude to avoid them. In order to start a new year correctly and healthily, we offer you some advice that can help you avoid them.
- Seek alternatives to keep the mind occupied
- Seek help to reduce psychological pressure
- Increase social interaction
- Encourage positive reinforcement
- Become informed about risk situations
- Identify warning signs
CCAdicciones is an addiction and dependency disorder treatment center that can help you. Contact us and we will provide you with information.
