Nikodem Evenings 2024 were opened last Monday with a round table on the topic "The Silent Power of Addiction". The event, organized by Alma Mater Europaea University and the University Parish of Maribor, attracted nearly 150 participants who listened to the discussion by experts Prof. Dr. Sebastjan Kristovič and Miha Kramli.
The evening moderator Špela Pokeržnik led a discussion on modern technologies and their impact on addiction, especially among young people. Prof. Dr. Sebastjan Kristovič, professor at Alma Mater Europaea and mental health expert, described addiction as an escape from life and relationships. Dr. Kristovič emphasized that screens, which are part of digitalization, can be beneficial in small amounts, but in excessive amounts lead to harmful consequences for quality of life and health, both mental and physical.
Miha Kramli, psychotherapist and head of the addiction treatment center in Nova Gorica, warned about the dangers of digital addiction, which often appears already in childhood. He stressed the importance of awareness and creating healthy technology use in families as well as protecting our brains from digital content.
The shortest definition of addiction, as described by Kristovič and Kramli, is an escape from life and an escape from relationships. Kristovič compared screens to wine, as they can be beneficial in smaller amounts but harmful in excessive amounts. He advised families to try a period of complete abstinence from screens to understand how screens affect their lives and relationships.
Miha Kramli highlighted how digital addiction can develop early in children when they watch digital content, causing them to lose the need for movement and exploration. Kramli warned that the only protection for brains is creating healthy technology use in families, by setting clear boundaries and parental authority.
Mental health has deteriorated by 70 percent in the last 25 years in Slovenia and other developed countries, making the issue of digital addictions increasingly relevant. Kristovič compared screens to digital cocaine, as screens can cause similar effects on children's brains as hard drugs. This condition leads to passivity, apathy, and lack of will.
There are two more Nikodem evenings to follow. Tonight, November 19, the topic will be "When a student leaves home," discussing the challenges young people face when transitioning from their home environment to universities. Maja Gselman and Urša Mikolič will talk about the importance of support during these sensitive periods.
The closing evening, on Wednesday, November 20, will explore the complex relationships marked by addiction and illness. Under the theme "You, in my blood," Žiga Kastelic and Sonja Gerič Bevec will share personal stories and reflections on how alcoholism and illnesses affect individuals and their families.
The Nikodem evenings offer an important opportunity to discuss the modern challenges and problems of the digital age and how each individual and family can contribute to creating a healthy environment in modern society.
