UKAT Sees Phone Dependency Hit 1 in 3 Drug Clients, Up From 1 in 10
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 28
UKAT Sees Phone Dependency Hit 1 in 3 Drug Clients, Up From 1 in 10
1 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 28
Summary
One in three UK Addiction Treatment Centres clients treated for drug dependency last year also had a secondary phone dependency, up from one in 10 in 2019.
UKAT says some patients even abandon treatment for their primary addiction because they refuse to hand over their phones on entering residential care.
Therapists at centres including Rainford Hall in Merseyside say the pattern cuts across backgrounds, with messages, likes and scrolling triggering dopamine-driven reward loops that can mask loneliness or distress.
A Deloitte survey of 1,000 adults found 70% think they spend too much time on their phones, even though phone addiction is not yet an officially recognized condition.
Clinics and peer groups such as Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous are increasingly using therapy, screen-time reduction and support meetings to help people regain control.
Is constant phone use physically altering your brain's chemistry in the same way as a powerful drug?
A landmark court ruling found social media addictive by design. How will this force our most-used apps to change?
98% of Americans Own Smartphones: The Hidden Threat of Phone Dependency in Addiction Recovery
Overview
The report highlights how the near-universal adoption of mobile phones has led to a sharp rise in digital dependency, especially among young people. This growing phone dependency often overlaps with mental health challenges, creating new obstacles for addiction treatment. Recent years have seen a significant increase in under-18s seeking help for substance use, with many already struggling with compulsive phone use. The combination of digital and substance dependencies complicates recovery, as smartphones can introduce new triggers and risks. As a result, treatment systems face greater pressure to adapt, addressing both traditional addictions and the emerging challenge of phone dependency.