Cross addiction is as worst as the main addiction you are trying to quit and it is a terrible idea. But what is cross addiction?
What Are Cross Addictions?
Cross addiction, also known as addiction transfer or addiction interaction disorder, occurs in various ways. First, an individual may simultaneously engage in substance abuse and maladapative behavioral patterns (medically referred to as behavioral or process addictions).
Second, a person may replace one addiction with another (i.e., substituting opioids with cannabis). Third, an addictive behavior may precede a chemical addiction or vice versa.
https://www.choosingtherapy.com/cross-addiction/So a friend told me that a mutual friend tried to replace his gambling addiction with another another one because he has tried all everything else. The new addiction is PS4. He pays for extra on the game and he is getting more and more into it. According to my friend, this mutual friend feels that paying $20 per month its subscription is better than $100- $500 on slots where he ends up losing.
Well I told him that this is basically cross addiction and what that mutual friend is trying to do is like running away from the truth. Not wanting to face the core issue. So he is justify spending $20 and not on slots when both are unhealthy addictions that can have far reaching consequences. He just has to sit and face his addiction head on without looking for a replacement addiction which is just as bad.
Have you ever think that it is just a diversion? A subscription does not mean addiction, IMO. It is a good thing that the other friend is immersed in other things instead of gambling addiction. I agree that it is better to spend $20 than spending $100-$500 by losing them on gambling.
The friend is not running away from truth, he knows he is addicted and he finds that diverting his attention can help him stop the uncontrollable urge of gambling. IMO, his current situation is better than him being addicted on gambling.
The guy is spending less money in a monthly basis, what is a positive aspect, however we can't neglect the fact PS4 games must be more time-consuming, therefore his life must be really unproductive right now, probably more unproductive than when he was gambling, due to the time it's demanding from him.
We don't know the all about of the person involved. For me having saved $480 is a huge thing since it is equal to a month salary of a normal employee. Whether he is unproductive because he is playing of PS4 I believe he saved more money than being engaged in gambling. Gambling also consume a lot of time especially with $500 budget and betting with minimal wager, it can consume more than 24 hours before it is exhausted.