IFAC - Federative Institute of Behavioral Addictions

The Federative Institute of Behavioral Addictions was created in order to develop research on these new problematic behaviors to improve our understanding of the mechanisms involved in addictive conducts and to guide the prevention and treatment programs.

 

« Standard » substance addictions (alcohol, tobacco, drugs, medicines…) are no longer the only focus of health professionals, who now take more and more into account the reality of addictions without substance use, also called behavioral addictions.

 

They are less known by the general public, and relate to pathological gambling), video games addiction, compulsive buying, eating disorders, exercise dependence, sexual addiction and emotional dependence, sectarian dependence…

 

To date, there are very few care structures specialized in the treatment of these behavioral disorders. The research work led in France in this field is rare, compared to other Western countries. Measures should be taken to remedy this lack.

 

As they have grown to represent a real public health issue, behavioral addictions are a great source of preoccupation for many key actors, whether they are linked to youth health or risk prevention.

 

Creating the Reference Center on Excessive Gambling (CRJE)

In this context, Nantes University Hospital and two gambling operators (La Française des Jeux and the PMU, both of which carry out a responsible gambling policy) partnered up in 2008 to create the Reference Center on Excessive Gambling (CRJE), which is part of a larger entity: the Federative Institute of Behavioral Addictions (IFAC), initiated by Pr Jean-Luc Vénisse from the Psychiatry department of Nantes University Hospital.

 

The missions of the IFAC

The Federative Institute of Behavioral Addictions has a threefold mission to develop research, (as an essential mission), training-prevention and information. Its scope includes all behavioral addictions.

 

The IFAC and the Addictology Department of Nantes University Hospital

The IFAC is backed to the Addictology Department of Nantes University Hospital, which offers patient evaluation, orientation and therapeutic management. The Addictology Department of Nantes University Hospital is strongly committed to the notion of transversality of addictions, with or without drug use.

It is known in France for its expertise in the field of behavioral addictions and accomodates every year a significant number of patients for these issues.

The links between clinics, research, training and prevention activities are also developed through the IFAC’s involvement in creating and running the National Network for the Prevention and Management of Pathological Gambling (RNPSJP).