Which forms of behaviour does the Swiss National Strategy on Addiction distinguish, from low-risk to addiction?

Three zones: low-risk behaviour, risk behaviour (excessive, chronic or situation-inappropriate) and addiction.

* Risk behaviour comes in three forms; addiction is a separate, further stage *

• Low-risk behaviour (risikoarmes Verhalten): consumption or behaviour that does not harm the person or others. Most people are here most of the time.
• Risk behaviour (Risikoverhalten), in three forms:
  • Excessive (exzessiv): a lot at once, e.g. binge drinking or a 12-hour gaming session.
  • Chronic (chronisch): regularly too much over a long time, e.g. daily heavy drinking.
  • Situation-inappropriate (situationsunangepasst): the behaviour is wrong for the situation even in small amounts, e.g. drinking before driving, during pregnancy, or scrolling while crossing the road.
• Addiction (Sucht): compulsive behaviour that continues despite serious harm.

The point of the model: risk behaviour already causes harm and deserves attention without being called addiction. Lumping everything together either over-pathologises ordinary people or trivialises real dependence.

Go deeper:

• BAG: Nationale Strategie Sucht — the strategy that defines these forms (German).