1Department of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
2Department of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
J Behav Addict. 2020 Nov 16;9(4):1098-1102. doi: 10.1556/2006.2020.00091.
The global spread of COVID-19, subsequent stay-at-home requirements, spatial distancing measures, and long-term isolation present additional challenges for persons in recovery. Using an illustrative case from South Africa, we discuss COVID-19 related pornography use through the lens of relapse and substitute addiction. South Africa is the epicenter of the pandemic in Africa, and has issued an alcohol and cigarette ban. Historical examples suggest that responses to forced abstinence may include compliance and abstinence, but also seeking alternatives to the original addiction and substitution. Substitution of alternative activities/objects may provide similar appetitive effects to fill the void of the terminated addictive behavior, temporarily or in the long-term. While substitutes do not necessarily portend a relapse, coupled with isolation and reduced recovery support, they can potentiate relapse to the former or 'new' addictive behavior. Addiction professionals should be aware of the potential for such negative impacts during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
新冠疫情在全球蔓延，随之而来的居家要求、空间隔离措施和长期隔离给康复中的人带来了额外的挑战。我们将通过南非的一个案例，从复发性和替代成瘾的角度讨论与新冠疫情相关的色情内容使用问题。南非是非洲疫情的中心，已经颁布了酒类和香烟禁令。历史上的例子表明，对强制戒断的反应可能包括遵守和戒断，但也可能寻求替代原来的成瘾物和替代物。替代活动/物品的替代可能会提供类似的食欲效应，以填补已终止的成瘾行为的空缺，无论是暂时的还是长期的。虽然替代品不一定预示着复发，但加上隔离和减少康复支持，它们可能会增加对以前或“新”成瘾行为的复发风险。成瘾专业人员应该在新冠疫情期间和之后意识到这种负面影响的可能性。
