Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector's Advisor, Head of Internal Medical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay, attended the “Family and Youth Symposium on Combating Addiction” organized by Samsun Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMÜ) within the scope of the 2025 Family Year. In his speech titled “Addiction in the 21st Century,” Uzbay emphasized that addiction should be considered as chemical and non-chemical types, stating that behavioral addictions threaten the family structure at least as much as substance addictions. Uzbay noted that with digitalization, addictions have increased in areas such as internet, social media, gaming, gambling, and shopping, and pointed out that excessive convenience weakens cognitive skills.
At the symposium hosted by Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMÜ), the issue of combating addiction was addressed multi-dimensionally, focusing on family and youth. The symposium was held with the participation of protocol members, academicians, university and high school students, and citizens.
“There is no difference between chemical addictions and behavioral addictions in terms of threatening the family”
Stating that they divide addiction into two groups, chemical and behavioral, in the 21st century, Prof. Dr. Uzbay said; “In the 2000s, generations began to change. A new type of addiction emerged, called behavioral addictions. In fact, from where we stand, we also divide addiction into two groups in the 21st century. There are addictions involving chemical substances. These are the addiction types we know. Tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, opiates, cocaine, etc. are chemical addictions. And then behavioral addictions emerged. It started primarily with the internet. With the digital revolution, we started talking about internet addiction. The excessive use of smartphones, social media, various games, and the significant increase in gambling and betting related to these games, led to a change in the form of gambling, its widespread nature, and easy accessibility. Then, eating disorders were a form of illness. Within this, a special type of addiction called food addiction emerged. Shopping addiction appeared. We even started discussing various types of addictions such as exercise and sex addiction. The whole world calls this behavioral addiction. In fact, calling it behavioral is wrong. All addictions are ultimately behavioral; there is also a behavioral disorder in the inclination towards chemical substances and in using chemical substances. Here, there is also a behavioral disorder in disproportionate use of smartphones, games, gambling, and betting. This is their common point. Perhaps it needs to be divided into chemical and non-chemical addictions. There is no difference between chemical addictions and behavioral addictions in terms of threatening the family structure. We need to be aware of this too.”
“Excessive convenience destroys cognitive functional skills”
Uzbay stated that research shows the ease of the internet lowers IQs; “As the internet became widespread in our lives and our work became easier, there is a downward trend in our average IQ. There was this approach, wasn't there, that Generation Z is wonderful, innovative, and then Generation Alpha is coming, and this Generation Alpha will be even more effective, this will happen in the world, there will be such revolutions. Unfortunately, there is something Generation Z needs to be aware of. As they lean towards excessive convenience, they lose their cognitive functions of reading, writing, and the skill of writing. Because we are constantly touching places with our fingers, we cannot write. I used to see young people among my students who couldn't hold a pen. The most important feature that distinguishes humans from all other living beings here is our ability to use our hands and the readings we do by using reasoning between our eyes and our brain. We are not currently at a level where we can instantly get used to the internet revolution and adapt to it. Just like the agricultural revolution and the industrial revolution, this revolution will also have its victims. To avoid being these victims, we need to live this process consciously.”
“It should not be considered merely a moral issue”
Emphasizing that addiction is a brain disease, Uzbay continued his speech as follows; “Addiction stems from something pleasurable affecting the brain. There is something pleasurable at play, and it affects the brain. After using it for a certain period, we definitely try to sense it. When we cannot sense it, we can go into a crisis. To avoid this crisis, it is necessary to continue using it. This leads to certain behavioral disorders. As a result, it is a brain disease. We can list many diseases in this way, such as Parkinson's, autism, depression. Like anxiety. It develops very quickly in some predisposed individuals. To address this solely as a moral issue means starting the solution from the wrong place. Addiction will undoubtedly erode moral values, harm the family structure, gnaw at society as it spreads, and accelerate social decay. All of these are consequences of addiction. They are a consequence of the spread of addicts, but addiction itself is a brain disease that must be controlled and approached primarily with a treatment strategy. Therefore, approaching an addict with 'This is a matter of willpower, their will is weak, their morals are weak, they can do it if they want, they can get rid of it if they want' is extremely wrong. If you do not isolate it and control it in a certain way, its contagiousness level can increase.”
Following his speech, a plaque was presented to Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay by Samsun Ondokuz Mayıs University Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın.
Uzbay visited Samsun Governor Orhan Tavlı in his office
After the symposium, Uzbay also visited Samsun Governor Orhan Tavlı in his office. Possible collaborations regarding addiction were discussed during the meeting.