The most common addictions

Ten or twenty years ago, if you asked about addictions, the most common ones would have been drinking alcohol, abusing drugs, and gambling at the track or casino. Today, however, there are newer breeds of addictions that have become just as dangerous to society, just as detrimental to a person's health, and equally as prevalent. It seems, in fact, that our fast-paced lifestyles, and cocooning tendencies have led to the emergence of a variety of addictions. Thus, some of the most common addictions today are texting on cellphones, playing video games, living life vicariously through the internet, binging and purging on food, cutting one's body, as well as the old standbys, smoking, drinking, taking drugs, and gambling.

Today, everything needs to be immediate. No-one waits for the postal mail, fewer people speak on the telephone, and every conversation, no matter how trivial, needs to be discussed right away. Because of this growing trend, you now see many young people and even children addicted to their cellphones, specifically texting. Basically, texting is a form of communication through writing short notes or snippets. It is more concise than email and has a language of its own. And, where it appeared to be an activity most attractive to young people, it has evolved into "accepted behavior" of business people to stay in contact with the office and clients. But, one point that is consistent with both groups of users is that the activity is addicting. In fact, in many cities, it is now illegal to text in the car, as it is such a dangerous activity, and most people do not have the simple common sense to realize that they are endangering their lives and the lives of everyone around them on the road.

Additionally, video games have progressed into an activity more sinister than previously thought. While individuals have always had the tendency to spend too much time playing games, many people have now taken the activity to a whole new level. With the introduction of online communities and games, addicted individuals are substituting the games' characters for their own real identities. They are making the games their lives instead of living in the real world. Sadly, they play as far as forgetting to eat, neglecting to bathe and change clothes, and ignoring to sleep. Eventually, they withdraw from society, and many end up losing their jobs as a result of their obsessive behaviors.

Finally, gambling has taken on a whole new meaning with the popularity of the internet and the proliferation of online gaming sites. Typically, gambling was the realm of adults, since children could not bet at the track or even enter a casino. Today, however, pretty much anyone in possession of a credit card can gain access to an online gambling site. It is easy to fund the bets, and it is even easier to engage in the addictive behavior without anyone knowing. Nobody sees anything online.

To conclude this discussion on the most common addictions, it would probably be fair to state that technology has contributed in a large way to the more modern kinds of addictions. As individuals seek instant gratification and immediate access, addiction becomes all too real. Our society, that dictates that we should always be "tuned in", has led to many people avoiding their real lives.