Addiction

Cover art by Madison Bishop

Over the past several weeks, the Bark has come together to compile a thorough report on addiction in society. Through deep research, interviews and writing, we've tackled several forms of addiction with the hopes of informing readers of the different aspects of each one. Dive into the sections below to gain a deeper understanding of addiction--including its causes, impacts, prevention and more--told by student journalists.

SUBSTANCE

Learn about substance here.

“In 2024, 1 of every 8 middle school students (12.9 percent) and nearly 1 of every 4 high school students (23.6 percent) said that they had tried a tobacco product,” a CDC survey said.

Illustration by Lucy Jeffers

CONSUMERISM

Learn about consumerism here.

"The cycle of consumerism starts before the buying does. The reason addiction around buying exists is because the brain releases 'happy hormones' like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins when buying."

Illustration by Natalie Vinogradsky

PERFECTIONISM

Learn about perfectionism here.

"One in forty U.S. adults, or 2.3 percent, are diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, making it the fourth most common mental disorder."

Illustration by Paloma Nacamuli

MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY

Learn about media and technology here.

"No other social media app hooked me as quickly as TikTok, because its algorithm always had me saying, 'Just one more video and then I’ll close the app.' But one video would turn into ten, and then 20. I had to acknowledge that my TikTok addiction was stronger than other social media apps, so I decided to delete the app altogether."

Illustration by Paloma Nacamuli

GAMBLING

Learn about gambling here.

"In a 2026 study, Common Sense Media reported that 51 percent of 16-year-old boys have gambled in the past 12 months, despite it being illegal for those under 21."

Illustration by Rosstin Pouradib

LUST

Learn about lust here.

"As porn becomes more accessible and more available, it has accelerated exposure for youth, which has caused them to be more susceptible to developing compulsive sexual behavior disorder."

Illustration by Natalie Vinogradsky

CREATED BY

Isabella Marsh