Addictive substances and behaviors share the same underlying neurological process, meaning someone addicted to one substance or behavior is more vulnerable to others.

“And that's where this whole idea of cross-addiction comes in. So once you've been addicted to a substance, severely addicted, that makes you more vulnerable to addiction to any substance.”

Behavioral addictions function similarly to substance use disorders by providing immediate relief from underlying stressors and impacting the brain's reward system.

“I mean, there's been studies that have shown and I I uh that, you know, it's impacting the brain in the same way as a lot of drugs are.”