International Journal of Human and Health Sciences. Supplementary Issue: 2019
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31344/ijhhs.v0i0.142

 

S24 
 

Gadget Addiction: Opioid of the Era? 
 
Rozanizam Zakaria 
 

Dept. of Psychiatry, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)  

 

ABSTRACT  
 

Technology has certainly helped human race to advance forward and created the informa t io n 
revolution. Gadgets armed with internet have transformed our lives in many ways and shifted 

our paradigm regarding human relationship, works and life in general in this era of instant 
gratification.  While technology has nurtured the human race, questions raise regarding the limit 
in which these two are interconnected. Does this advancement simplify life or actually make it 

more complex? As per suggested by the Hooked Theory, business model of internet, social 
medial and digital applications revolve around satisfying human needs, targeting our very own 

brain reward circuit. This has created concerns among sociologists, psychiatrists and 
psychologists regarding the potential rise of ‘new opioid’ for the era – the gadgets. We will 
discuss range of epidemiological data to visualize the severity of the situation and highlights 

different views on the concept of gadget addiction. This includes understanding the diffic ult y 
in coming to term regarding whether our over-attachment to gadget is a form behaviour a l 

addiction or merely a transient social trend. From Hikikomori phenomenon to cyber-induced 
depression, the topic will also elaborate various impacts of gadget addiction, primarily on 
mental and psychological health, interpersonal relationship and human behavior. In particular, 

the focus will be on the impact of gadget addiction towards vulnerable groups, especially 
children and adolescents. The discussion will also integrate various practical holistic solutio ns 

to the problem without denying the integral role that technology has in our life.