War exacerbates gambling and alcohol addiction, says psychologist
21 January 15:39
Addiction is not just about alcohol or drugs, but about a deep mental disorder that affects almost all areas of a person’s life. Full-scale war, chronic stress, and loss can accelerate the development of addictions and change their structure, in particular, exacerbating gambling and alcohol addiction. Psychologist and cognitive-behavioral therapist Vadym Melnyk spoke about this in an interview with the YouTube channel "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to the psychologist, addiction is often mistakenly reduced to the mere fact of alcohol or drug use, although in reality it is a much more complex phenomenon.
“Addiction is actually a much broader and deeper problem than just alcohol or drug use. Addiction is a specific mental disorder that affects almost all areas of life,” he notes.
The psychologist adds that with the start of the war, and especially after the full-scale invasion, the level of alcohol abuse in Ukraine has increased.
“I think that with the start of the war, and even more so with the start of full-scale war, the level of alcohol abuse has increased. However, not all people who drink because of unpleasant emotions become addicted as a result,” he added.
Melnik explains that the key factor is not only the frequency of alcohol consumption, but also the level of awareness and control.
“I would say that it depends not on the frequency of consumption, but on how consciously a person does it and how much they can control this process in general,” he says.
At the same time, he warns that if a person drinks alcohol regularly, this is already a sign of risk.
“I would say that if consumption occurs weekly, then it is already frequent consumption,” he informs.
According to the psychologist, crisis situations in which alcohol or other behaviors become a means of emotional survival pose a particular danger.
“In the crisis situations we are living in, alcohol dependence can develop much faster because it is not just drinking, but a way to overcome very complex emotions,” he says.
Separately, Melnyk draws attention to the growing number of reports of gambling addiction, which may be related to economic losses and the illusion of a quick way out of the financial crisis. According to him, the idea of a quick win in uncertain conditions becomes particularly attractive, but at the same time dangerous.
The psychologist also confirms the existence of cases of gambling addiction among the military, although the reasons for this phenomenon may vary.
“Unfortunately, there are also cases of gambling addiction among the military. And this does happen, it’s true,” he added.
Speaking about the most common types of addiction today, Melnyk shares his own observations from practice.
“Alcohol and gambling addiction are roughly on the same level, followed by drug addiction,” he added.
