Specialists from across the globe have met at Bogazici University in Istanbul to discuss the rising threat of behavioral compulsions. This three-day summit focuses on issues such as gambling, disordered eating, and excessive internet use.
The shift from substance abuse to gambling and gaming
The medical community is witnessing a fundamental shift in how addiction is defined and treated. According to the report, Professor Mehmet Dinc, President of Türkiye's Green Crescent, noted that while addiction was once primarily understood through the lens of substance abuse, the modern era is increasingly defined by behavioral compulsions. This includes gaming, gambling, and problematic internet consumption.
This transition highlights a growing complexity in psychological health. As digital tools become more integrated into daily life, the lines between healthy use and compulsive behavior blur, necessitating new scienttific approaches to combat these non-substance-related dependencies. This summit follows a history of similar gatherings in nations such as Japan, France, and the United Kingdom, marking a new chapter for the organization in Türkiye.
Global expertise from Yale and Chicago arrives in Istanbul
The Istanbul gathering represents a significant milestone for the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Addictions (ISSBA). Zsolt Demetrovics, the President of the ISSBA, is among the prominent figures attending the event, which is organized in conjunction with the ICBA. The scientific depth of the event is underscored by the presence of researchers from prestigious institutions, including Yale University, the University of Chicago, the University of Geneva, and the University of Lausanne.
The scientific committee for the conference includes experts from a wide array of nations, including Canada, China, South Korea, Germany, and Spain. By uniting researchers, academics, and health professionals on a shared scientific platform, the event aims to create a global consensus on how to address the systemic nature of modern addiction.
How digital environments are engineered to maximize engagement
A central theme of the discussions involves the culpability of the digital environments themselves. Professor Mehmet Dinc argued that addiction is not merely an individual failure but is heavily influenced by environmental and systemic factors. He pointed out that many digital platforms are intentionally designed to capture attention and maximize user engagement through repetitive reinforcement.
This perspective shifts the focus from why a person loses control to what kind of environment makes losing control more likely. as reported by the source, Dinc emphasized that as technology transforms our lives,we must examine how certain digital spaces are built to exploit human psychology.. By focusing on these environmental triggers, the Green Crescent aims to move toward a model of prevention and resilience rather than just reactive treatment.
The gap between scientific research and regulatory policy
While the conference provides a robust scientific foundation, several critical questions remain unanswered by the current proceedings. the report focuses exclusively on the scientific and psychological perspectives, leaving the viewpoints of the technology companies themselves unaddressed. It remains unclear how the findings regarding engagement-based design will be used to influence the tech industry.
Furthermore, there is a notable absence of discussion regarding specific legislative or regulatory frameworks. While the experts are identifying the mechanisms of behavioral addiction, the link between this scientific data and concrete policy action—such as regulating addictive algorithms—has yet to be established in the current summit's agenda.
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