The 6th Global Congress on Behavioral Addictions
The 6th International Congress on Behavioral Addictions was organized by the Turkish Green Crescent Society on May 13–14, 2025, at the WOW Convention Center & Hotel in Istanbul. The congress aimed to provide a platform for the international community to share scientific developments in the field of behavioral addictions and to contribute to the creation of new, effective, evidence-based approaches. The event brought together numerous scholars, experts, and representatives from various institutions and organizations from around the world. Over the course of two days, 29 speakers from 12 different countries delivered presentations.
The opening speeches of the congress were delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Dinç, President of the Turkish Green Crescent; Prof. Dr. Mücahit Öztürk, Chair of the Green Crescent Board of Trustees; Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Family and Social Services; and Dr. Cevdet Yılmaz, Vice President of Türkiye. The keynote speakers of the congress were Prof. Dr. Marc Potenza, Prof. Dr. David C. Hodgins, Prof. Dr. Hae Kook Lee, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Joshua Grubbs.
During the congress, a total of 25 presentations were delivered in nine main sessions, which focused on various areas such as gambling addiction, problematic digital gaming, problematic pornography use, problematic social media use, and other behavioral addictions (e.g., exercise, eating). The key themes that emerged from these sessions were as follows:
- Current practices and research methods in addressing behavioral addictions
- Prevention, intervention, advocacy efforts, and emerging risks and threats related to behavioral addictions
- Effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation services for behavioral addictions
- New perspectives and experiences gained in the fight against behavioral addictions
- Innovative policy proposals, action plans, and intervention programs for tackling behavioral addictions
In addition to the main sessions, a total of 15 oral presentations were delivered across three separate sessions. Furthermore, 14 poster presentations were exhibited in the foyer area. As part of the congress program, a workshop titled “Peer Review Training Program for Scientific Journals” was organized on May 12, 2025, by Addicta: The Turkish Journal on Addictions, the international academic journal of the Green Crescent. The workshop aimed to support the development of peer reviewers who play a key role in the editorial processes of academic journals in Türkiye. It was specifically designed for PhD graduates interested in serving as peer reviewers in scientific journals, particularly within the fields of social and health sciences. Theoretical sessions focused on international challenges, strategies, editorial standards, and new approaches in peer review processes. In the practical session, participants engaged in a simulated peer review exercise based on a sample article.
Approximately 1,000 people attended the two-day congress in person, while around 3,000 participants joined online. By bringing together theoretical discussions and field experiences from researchers across the globe, the congress provided an important platform for developing shared solutions to the worldwide challenges of behavioral addictions.