Comorbidity among behavioral addictions in adolescence

Comorbidity in drug use is one of the most relevant aspects of substance addictions. It is,
however, an issue on which there is still not enough scientific research regarding behavioral
addictions and the relationship with other addictions, especially in regard to the so-called
technological addictions.
This paper analyzes the relationship between the main criteria of gambling addiction with that
of technology, and tobacco and alcohol consumption in 2,074 adolescents between 14 and 19
years of age who were administered the addiction prevention program to gambling, Ludens.
In the case of behavioral addictions, the only high correlations were found between mobile and
social network addiction scores. This result is in line with the hypothesis that the existence of
comorbidity among behavioral addictions requires the participation of common psychological
processes. Besides, the absorption into which people with this type of addiction are imbued is
usually incompatible with the presence of other behavioral addictions that also require a high
degree of involvement.