RTL Today – Gaming and gambling addiction: Foundation for Youth and Drug Assistance unveils new online contact point

In late-2019, the online platform “Suchtberodung Online” was launched to offer young people struggling with addiction a digital way to reach out for help.

At the beginning, the main focus of the platform was on substance abuse, i.e. cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs. Recently, it was announced that the non-profit “Anonymous Gambling” (Anonym Glécksspill) will now also offer their services.

In addition to gambling, Suchtberodung Online now also offers help for video-game addiction, as between 7% and 10% of adolescents are addicted to video games or at risk of developing an addiction. These services are needed, especially during the coronavirus crisis: Since the first lockdown, many young people have cancelled their counselling sessions, since they no longer take place on site, but instead via video-call.

According to Dr Andreas König, involved in the management of the Anonymous Gambling association, explains that especially parents are overwhelmed by the situation. Online learning requires students to use their laptops or PCs and it is not always easy to distinguish personal use from schoolwork.

In addition, many parents hesitate to restrict their children’s use of digital platforms because it is often their only way to stay in touch with friends, according to Günter Biwerski, director of the Luxembourg Foundation for Youth and Drug Assistance.

Biwerski explains that it is of course a bit of a contradiction, but especially for addicts a reasonable usage time is important. This is why the Foundation offers a self-test on the website and the app.

The self-test can be taken on the app or on suchtberodung-online.lu (available in German and French). After answering a few questions, users get an indication whether their gaming habit is within what is considered “normal usage” or whether they should seek help. Users also have the options to chat with an expert and keep an online journal of their progress.

Anonymity is a key element of the website as well. The goal is that anyone should feel comfortable using the online tools as much as they want without requiring them to reveal any personal data. After all, Biwerski adds, addiction is still a taboo subject in society.

In 2020, a total of 150 people sought help due to a gaming addiction compared to 374 individuals who struggled with gambling. The Foundation hopes to reach even more people through its new app.

Video report not in English

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*