As funding for addiction support continues to decrease in the UK, the lack of access to services is leading many people to turn to Google rather than professionals in an attempt to find the information and support they need, especially for conditions that may have a stigma attached. Addiction specialists at Rehabs UK have compared rehab and government data against search data to uncover the most overlooked addictions in the UK.
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Behavioural addictions are the most searched for conditions in the UK, with the top four being gambling addiction (4,800 monthly UK searches), porn addiction (4,000), sex addiction (2,700), and phone addiction (1,900).
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“Gambling addiction help” (1,100) has nearly four times (x3.7) more monthly searches than “cocaine addiction help” (300).
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Despite this, treatment for behavioural addictions is not widely accessible – the National Gambling Helpline referred just 6,155 people to gambling addiction services in England in 2021–22.
Rehabs UK Director and Founder Lester Morse says that a lack of access to, or awareness of, medical services, as well as stigma, are among the reasons why someone may choose to seek online support instead of professional help.
Top 10 most searched for addictions in the UK
Source: Ahrefs
Gambling addiction
With 4,800 monthly UK searches for “gambling addiction” and 1,100 for “gambling addiction help”, gambling has nearly four times (x3.7) more monthly searches than “cocaine addiction help” (300) and is one of the most searched for addictions in the country. Despite this, the National Gambling Helpline referred just 6,155 people to gambling addiction services in England in 2021–22.
This clearly falls short of the addiction treatment services required. Government research indicates that;
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0.5% of the adult population in England has a problem with gambling (between 160,000 and 340,000 adults)
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3.8% are gambling at at-risk levels
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7% are affected negatively by other people’s gambling
Across the UK, a 2020 YouGov treatment and support survey found that 13% of people were experiencing some level of gambling-related harm, with scores higher among men and younger adults.
Porn and sex addiction
Porn addiction (4,000 UK monthly searches) and sex addiction (2,700) are among the most searched for addiction types in the UK, but there is no official government data tracking cases or treatment for these issues.
A 2023 study by the sexual abuse charity Dignify asked 4,000 children between the aged 14-18 in Hertfordshire about their relationship with porn and discovered that 22% of students had viewed porn on multiple occasions. Alarmingly, of those, 20% said they believed they had a porn habit and one in 10 said they felt addicted.
Due to the perceived stigma and prevalence in young people, it is perhaps not surprising that many people with this type of addiction choose to seek help online rather than in person. This is especially true when there is a lack of government tracking to determine where support is needed.
Digital addiction
Despite growing awareness around digital addictions, it is another form of behavioural addiction that is not recognised in official government treatment data, despite significant demand for help and support.
Phone addiction, smartphone addiction and mobile phone addiction are searched a combined 2,300 times per month in the UK, while internet addiction is searched 600 times.
Findings from The Millennium Cohort study, which is tracking the lives of about 19,000 people born across the UK between 2000 and 2002, suggest that there could be an even greater problem if more attention isn’t directed towards this area. 48% of its respondents either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I think I am addicted to social media”.
Gaming addiction
With 1,200 monthly searches and limited public health data available, public health agencies continue to overlook gaming addiction despite growing concerns.
An NHS update from March 2023 revealed that 745 people had been referred for treatment at the UK’s only gaming clinic since it opened more than three years earlier, in October 2019.
This figure feels particularly small considering that 85% of 16-24-year-olds in the UK play video games. It sounds even smaller in a global context. Video games have an estimated 3 billion players globally, of which, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates 4%, or 120 million people, are addicted.
Invisible addictions
“I believe all addictions are significantly underfunded at every level, from the mildest, which often go undetected, to the most severe, which cause immense harm to individuals, families, and society.” says Morse.
“As a society, I think we’re still largely focused on managing the symptoms of addiction rather than addressing the root causes. That’s where the majority of funding and support seems to go. This may stem from a belief that there is either no real solution to addiction, or that the solution is too difficult or ethically problematic to enforce. As a result, the level of treatment truly required to address addiction is in very short supply.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, Rehabs UK is here to help. Rehabs UK is committed to continuing to support those battling alcoholism, drug addictions and behavioural addictions. To access free assessments with trained treatment advisors, contact Rehabs UK here.