According to assessments conducted in 2025, online gambling and compulsive digital platform use have displaced substance-related disorders as the primary mental health challenge among adolescents in Tucumán, Argentina.
The province's Secretariat for the Prevention of Addictions, Lucas Haurigot Posse, has responded by strengthening its treatment infrastructure, as specialists flag the neurological and social consequences of unregulated exposure to betting apps and gaming platforms.
According to specialists, from a clinical standpoint, the dopaminergic stimulation produced by these platforms mirrors the response triggered by psychoactive substances, locking users into dependency cycles that progressively damage family and social ties.
They also note that affected adolescents tend to withdraw from physical interaction, choosing screen time over peer engagement in patterns that, without early detection, can solidify into chronic anxiety.
Haurigot Posse said the phenomenon carries a social dimension described by health professionals as a "false presence," where digital contact substitutes but does not replace physical connection, deepening rather than relieving isolation.
He added that family involvement is identified as the central pillar of recovery, with structured limit-setting and household support flagged as the most effective early interventions available.
As a response, the Secretariat is running in-person programs at its facility and maintains active outreach through its social media platforms or directly through its phone line.
Officials are urging families to seek evaluation when behavioral changes become persistent, noting that early treatment significantly improves outcomes.
Similar numbers are seen in Buenos Aires: a 2025 report by the public health administration of the Buenos Aires Province found that more than 80% of online gambling accessed by minors in Argentina takes place on unlicensed platforms, underscoring the scale of uncontrolled exposure among adolescents.
Argentina has seen a rise in youth exposure to online betting in recent years, driven by smartphone access and the proliferation of offshore platforms operating outside local regulatory frameworks
