America's Three Biggest Addictions

The United States might be one of the most addicted nations in the world.

In a new report from Go Smoke Free, the United States came in at No. 5 for most addictive personalities, based on factors like alcohol consumption, tobacco use and screen time. American had less addictive personalities than just four countries: France, Australia, Latvia and Romania, which came in at No. 1.

Experts say the United States has a near-nationwide struggle when it comes to many vices. But the country's three greatest addictions are varied, with statistics suggesting America has the biggest problem with illicit drugs and, perhaps surprisingly, video games and work.

"We have to acknowledge the US appears to have a deeply rooted cultural affinity for excess, whether alcohol, food, media consumption, or other outlets," psychologist Daniel Glazer told Newsweek. "Instant gratification and constant stimulation shape societal values and expectations. Coupled with lax regulations around substances and pervasive advertising, Americans face a uniquely temptation-steeped environment."

In the report, while Romania and Latvia saw excessive alcohol intake and Australia was deemed the most "sex-addicted country," the United States was notably the top country for coffee intake.

The U.S. imports 2,185 tons of coffee yearly, and many Americans drink several cups per day. But the United States also has some other vices.

America consumed 9.6 liters of alcohol per capita in 2019, making it relatively high compared to some countries, especially those outside Europe. While many European countries report higher amounts of alcohol consumed in a year, America might contend more so with a prevalent binge-drinking cultural problem, experts say.

Additionally, roughly 20 percent of Americans age 15 and up use tobacco products, according to the World Health Organization.

Noticeably, when Americans use drugs, they die at especially high rates. The United States had one of the worst amphetamine-use-disorder death rates in 2019, with 1.27 per 100,000. For cocaine deaths, the rate skyrocketed to 2.31 per 100,000.

That was far higher than any other country or region, and the only country that neared that rate was Canada, with 0.36 and 0.79 deaths per 100,000 people in the respective categories, according to Our World in Data.

Add the opioid crisis, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says kills roughly 110,000 people each year, and one can make the case for a deeply addicted, concerning American culture and society.

But what keeps us coming back to our vices?

Psychologists say high stress levels and easy access to addictive substances exacerbate addiction, especially in a culture that normalizes heavy drinking and other behaviors.

"Americans certainly have a low frustration tolerance, meaning that there is a cultural expectation that gratification will be delivered immediately," psychologist Lauren Napolitano told Newsweek. "I think this leaves people prone to looking for quick fixes or pills and substances to ameliorate distress, which makes them more prone to substance abuse."

There's an economic component to addiction, too.

"Many of the top ten countries are high GDP countries, suggesting that those with higher incomes are able to afford to fuel their highly addictive behaviors, and are therefore more likely to become hooked," a spokesperson for Go Smoke Free said in a statement.

Americans' addictive personalities can show up in ways other than drugs and alcohol. For instance, the U.S. saw an average of 7 hours, 11 minutes lost to screen time each day.

And they also revealed a hyper-prevalent obsession with work, reporting one of the highest average number of hours worked yearly at 1,811, falling just behind countries like Korea and Russia.

"Longer working hours, inadequate social support systems, and lack of work-life balance likely enable maladaptive coping mechanisms and addictive behaviors to emerge more readily," Glazer said.

When dealing with excessive work schedules, an uncertain economy and emotional stress, it's natural for the average American to look for something that provides an escape.

"Life is very stressful, more so than ever," Jennifer Hilligus, a therapist at New Jersey-based JLH Counseling, told Newsweek. "People crave a break from the stress and the thinking or anxiety about whatever it is that's causing that stress. The fastest, most immediate gratification way would be escape."

While drugs can work as an escape, video games can also prove sufficient, Hilligus said.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, between 1.7 and 10 percent of the U.S. population is addicted to video games.

"I find my clients tend to gravitate toward games where they have a bird's-eye view that allows them to be in complete control of the world they are playing the game in at that time," Hilligus said. "This is a way to compensate for the lack of control they feel in their own lives."