Why internet addiction is worse than drugs

Why internet addiction is worse than drugs

Issue:

• Internet Addiction cases on rise and becoming public health concern

About Internet Addiction:

• Characterized by a loss of control over internet use and disregard for the consequences of it
• Affects up to 8% of Americans and is becoming more common around the world
• Becoming public health concern as health is influenced by behavior
• Addictions includes online gaming, gambling, social media, pornography and sexting
• Addictions to cope with symptoms of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety which includes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Anxiety Disorder

Internet Addiction as Disorder:

• Neither World Health Organization (WHO) nor the American Psychiatric Association recognize internet addiction as a disorder
• WHO recognized the more specific Gaming Disorder following years of research in China, South Korea and Taiwan where doctors have called it a public health crisis

Way Forwards:

• Reboot Program: a pioneer residential therapy for moderating internet use of 11-17 years old at Ohio, US
• YouTube has created a time monitoring tool to nudge viewers to take breaks from their screens as part of its parent company Google’s “digital wellbeing” initiative
• Intensive research on Internet Addiction would soon produce empirical results to meet medical classification standards