The number of children and young adults entering treatment for addictions and gambling disorders has tripled in the past year, and experts believe the pandemic and lockdowns have played a key role in that increase.
The UK’s first specialist clinic for treating children and young adults addicted to video games opened in 2019, one year after the World Health Organization recognized ‘gambling disorder’ as a medical condition .
Figures obtained by the Guardian via access to information requests show 56 people were treated at the clinic between January and May of this year, up from 17 at the same time last year.
Nightingale Hospital, a private hospital specializing in the treatment of mental health disorders, has also seen an increase in referrals and people seeking treatment for gambling and technology addictions. The hospital said that between March and June and July to September 2020, the number of inquiries received regarding technology addiction doubled, the majority of them from parents seeking support for their children. In 2021, the hospital saw a fourfold increase in inquiries.
Patrick Maxwell, the senior addiction therapist at Nightingale Hospital, said the pandemic has had a significant impact and that among young children in particular, addiction to technology comes more in the form of games.
“I think with the pandemic and its effects on home schooling, it has definitely given kids more exposure to screen time than we’ve ever had before,” he said. “Because they were at home, the parents were more aware of the screen time their child was spending, so I think that caused anxiety in the parents through their observations of their children.”
Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, head of gambling addictions at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said closing schools during the lockdown had a significant impact on young people with gambling disorders.
“Many of our young patients have said [that] the loss of structure caused them to play for longer hours and more compulsively, to the detriment of other interests and activities, including family time. For many of our patients, the escalation of play has caused a change in family dynamics, with parental attempts to block play causing the children to react with anger and sometimes physical aggression.
“The past year has brought many more patients into treatment than we anticipated and now we need to reconsider how we will support both parents and children in such numbers.”
Dr Linda Papadopolous, ambassador for the non-profit internet security organization Internet Matters, said the data was concerning. “Over the past year, young people have relied heavily on their devices for socializing and for downtime, and while there have been many positives, parents can be concerned about how long their children will be. go online and the risks associated with it. she said.
“While the data is concerning, there are some key signs parents should watch out for to help their children find a healthy balance before gambling becomes a problem. Some children might start to show a lack of interest in their usual hobbies, spend less time with real friends, and their schoolwork might start to suffer. Complaining of headaches and sleeping problems can also be symptoms.
She added that it is important for parents to talk to children about gambling addiction from an early age “so that they can develop their own healthy boundaries.”