Prevalence of the Addictions

A Problem of the Majority or the Minority?

Dados Bibliográficos

ID23317837
AutoresSteve Sussman (0000-0002-6778-9718, Departments of Preventive Medicine and Psychology, University of Southern California, Alhambra, CA, USA,, autor correspondente), Nadra Lisha (Departments of Preventive Medicine and Psychology, University of Southern California, Alhambra, CA, USA), Nadra E Lisha (0000-0002-8357-8961, University of Southern California), Mark D Griffiths (0000-0001-8880-6524, Nottingham Trent University), Mark Griffiths (0000-0002-2284-4533, Nottingham Trent University)
Ano2011
Volume34
Fascículo1
Páginas3-56
Data de publicação2011-03-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoEvaluation & the Health Professions (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0163-2787 • E-ISSN: 1552-3918
EditoraSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0163278710380124
PMID20876085
PMCIDPMC3134413
OpenAlexW2077358165
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas102
Referências citadas170

An increasing number of research studies over the last three decades suggest that a wide range of substance and process addictions may serve similar functions. The current article considers 11 such potential addictions (tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, eating, gambling, Internet, love, sex, exercise, work, and shopping), their prevalence, and co-occurrence, based on a systematic review of the literature. Data from 83 studies (each study n = at least 500 subjects) were presented and supplemented with small-scale data. Depending on which assumptions are made, overall 12-month prevalence of an addiction among U.S. adults varies from 15% to 61%. The authors assert that it is most plausible that 47% of the U.S. adult population suffers from maladaptive signs of an addictive disorder over a 12-month period and that it may be useful to think of addictions as due to problems of lifestyle as well as to person-level factors.

Addiction · Environmental health · Population · Psychiatry · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Gambling Behavior and Treatments · Medicine · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes