What is addiction?
We’re all a little “hooked” on something. For some, it’s sports; for others, chocolate, video games, shopping… Addiction becomes problematic and dangerous when it causes suffering and significantly affects a person’s daily life and functioning. What sets addiction apart from a simple habit is the loss of control. The person feels an almost irresistible urge to consume or act, even when aware of the negative impact on their health, relationships, or professional life.
Addiction is based on two important aspects:
- Physical dependence: This is what the body feels when we stop using. It can manifest as sleep disturbances, tremors, irritability… These are signs of withdrawal.
- Psychological dependence: This is the intense internal need, the almost uncontrollable urge to use again.
“Addiction” is a word we use to describe many things… and that’s understandable, because it can take many forms. To simplify, we generally distinguish between two main types of addiction:
- Behavioral addictions: these are behaviors that become uncontrollable, such as compulsive shopping, gambling, or sex addiction.
- Substance addictions: here, both the body and mind become dependent on a product, such as tobacco, alcohol, certain medications, cocaine, or opioids.
Two types of addiction, but very often, similar underlying mechanisms and challenges.
Fortunately, group therapy can be a great help for people struggling with addiction. In a caring and non-judgmental setting, it allows people going through similar experiences to come together, speak freely, and support each other. Through shared experiences, listening, and group solidarity, everyone can gradually move toward feeling better. You realize you’re not alone—and that can make all the difference.
However, it’s important not to confuse two types of groups: group therapy and support groups.
Group therapy is led by a mental health professional, such as a psychologist. It follows a structured framework and aims to better understand the root causes of the addiction, the emotions, the behaviors. The therapist guides the discussions and sometimes offers exercises to help people progress.
Support groups, on the other hand, are often simpler and more flexible. They are usually led by people who have experienced addiction themselves. These groups offer a space for sharing and listening, where everyone can talk about their experiences and receive support. There is no therapy in the strict sense, but mutual help plays a major role.
These two approaches are different, but they can complement each other. Joining a support group helps people feel understood, and attending group therapy allows them to dig deeper. Together, they offer strong support for anyone looking to overcome addiction.
Is group therapy effective for all types of addiction?
Now that we’ve defined addiction and clarified the difference between group therapy and support groups, we can honestly ask: is group therapy actually effective in treating addiction? And if so, for which types—behavioral or substance-related? As always, to answer these questions, let’s turn to the scientific literature.
Research shows that group therapy is effective for both substance addictions (like alcohol, tobacco, drugs…) and behavioral addictions (like gambling, screen use, compulsive shopping…). But the effectiveness can vary depending on the type of addiction and how the group is structured.
- Substance addictions (alcohol, drugs, opioids…)
A major international meta-analysis published in 2019 in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, led by Lo Coco and colleagues from the University of Palermo (Italy), combined results from 33 controlled trials on people with alcohol or drug dependence. The study found that group therapy significantly improves abstinence rates and is just as effective—sometimes even more effective—than individual therapy. Moreover, the social support it provides helps patients maintain long-term sobriety.
(DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2019.01.016)
- Tobacco
Group therapy has also proven effective in smoking cessation. A 2017 Cochrane review (Cochrane is an independent international organization that produces rigorous reviews of existing studies to understand what really works in health), published by Stead and her team at the University of Oxford (UK), analyzed 66 studies on group-based quit-smoking programs. Their conclusion: participating in group therapy significantly increases the chances of quitting smoking compared to self-help methods or no treatment. Results are comparable to intensive individual support.
(DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001007.pub3)
- Pathological gambling
For gambling addiction, the data is also very encouraging.
A recent clinical study conducted in Croatia (St. John University Hospital in Zagreb) and published in 2025 in Frontiers in Psychology followed 209 pathological gamblers who participated in an intensive group therapy program. The researchers, led by Jakob and colleagues, observed significant improvements: reduced gambling frequency, lower anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms. Participants also showed better daily coping skills after the therapy.
(DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1536082)
- Screen/Internet addiction
Group therapy is also useful in treating screen or internet addiction. A major meta-analysis by Liu and colleagues in China, published in 2017 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, compiled 58 studies on youth with problematic internet use. Their analysis shows that well-structured group therapies significantly reduce problematic internet use and improve time management and social relationships. Group therapy is just as effective as individual therapy for this kind of addiction.
(DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14121470)
- Compulsive shopping
There are still few high-quality studies on group therapy for compulsive shopping.
A recent systematic review published in 2023 by Müller and colleagues from Hannover Medical School in Germany analyzed 13 studies since 2000 on adults with this disorder, across multiple countries.
Their conclusion: cognitive behavioral group therapy significantly reduces compulsive shopping behaviors compared to control groups. In contrast, tested medications (such as certain antidepressants or topiramate) did not show clear benefits over placebo. However, caution is needed—the methodological quality of available studies varies, and most had a high risk of bias. The authors emphasize the need for more robust research with larger samples and a better understanding of new forms of shopping addiction, especially online. Still, group therapies appear to be a very promising option.
(DOI: 10.1556/2006.2023.00033)
- Sex addiction
In the area of sex addiction (compulsive sexual behavior disorder), a significant step forward came from a randomized study conducted in Sweden by Hallberg and colleagues at the Karolinska Institute, published in 2019 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The study followed 137 men with hypersexuality who underwent a 7-week group cognitive-behavioral therapy program. The result: participants showed a significant reduction in compulsive sexual behaviors and an improvement in psychological well-being, with effects maintained several months after the program ended.
(DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.03.005)
There are still not enough studies on the effectiveness of group therapy for other types of behavioral addiction, such as bigorexia (an addiction characterized by an uncontrollable need to exercise intensely, often to increase muscle mass, despite injury risks or impacts on one’s personal and professional life — Larousse, 2025).
Group therapy offers both practical tools to modify problematic behaviors and a supportive environment that helps participants sustain those changes over time.
Group therapy and support groups in Belgium
In Belgium, several well-known support groups exist for treating substance addictions. For example, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) offer regular meetings to support people with alcohol or drug dependency.
Other organizations, like ASBL Pelican, offer group therapy programs for addictions—welcoming people with both substance and behavioral addictions. Similarly, the CHU of Namur also provides group therapy for all types of addiction.
If you want to take things further and find a group that suits your needs, you can check the list of therapeutic groups dedicated to addiction treatment here: [insert link].
You’re not alone—there are support networks out there for you.
Camille Cuny
