Heroin-ware is a nickname for video games that are supposedly so realistic that players can get addicted. Experts, some of whom believe millions may be affected, say that video game addiction could be the gambling addiction of the future.
They’re even closer to the bone than they realise. The merging of online gambling and computer gaming is already here, though not yet near as sophisticated as top range games such as Ever Quest. That’s an online game with hundreds of thousands of followers world wide. Eerily it’s already claimed the life of at least one youth who committed suicide after a team member he’d been working with for months mugged his virtual character. Couple that kind of lure with gambling, as if it isn’t addictive enough for some people already, and you’ve got yourself some major social illness to prepare for.
Some major health-research universities are trying to get on top of the growing problem. Dr. James Mol, psychologist: 'People who become addicted to video games may be less inclined to seek help. People are taking guesses about how many people struggle with video games or computer-based addictions.'
One study said that one in four teenagers who plays video games feels addicted. According to doctors the problem may be more widespread for adults, considering the average age of a gamer is 28, and almost equally split between men and women.
It's also an industry enjoying explosive growth. James: 'There are likely to be lots more consumers than there are currently. And with more consumers, more likelihood the percentage of people addicted will be greater as well.”
Harvard Medical School has a clinic devoted to treating computer-addicted people. It said that symptoms include dry eyes, backaches, skipping meals, neglecting family and friends, lying about computer use and feeling euphoria when sitting at the computer.
Douglas Lowenstein, a video game trade association president issued the following statement about video game addiction: 'All those who play computer or video games need to take personal responsibility to ensure they use games in a sensible and appropriate way, as tens of millions of people do every day.
They’re even closer to the bone than they realise. The merging of online gambling and computer gaming is already here, though not yet near as sophisticated as top range games such as Ever Quest. That’s an online game with hundreds of thousands of followers world wide. Eerily it’s already claimed the life of at least one youth who committed suicide after a team member he’d been working with for months mugged his virtual character. Couple that kind of lure with gambling, as if it isn’t addictive enough for some people already, and you’ve got yourself some major social illness to prepare for.
Some major health-research universities are trying to get on top of the growing problem. Dr. James Mol, psychologist: 'People who become addicted to video games may be less inclined to seek help. People are taking guesses about how many people struggle with video games or computer-based addictions.'
One study said that one in four teenagers who plays video games feels addicted. According to doctors the problem may be more widespread for adults, considering the average age of a gamer is 28, and almost equally split between men and women.
It's also an industry enjoying explosive growth. James: 'There are likely to be lots more consumers than there are currently. And with more consumers, more likelihood the percentage of people addicted will be greater as well.”
Harvard Medical School has a clinic devoted to treating computer-addicted people. It said that symptoms include dry eyes, backaches, skipping meals, neglecting family and friends, lying about computer use and feeling euphoria when sitting at the computer.
Douglas Lowenstein, a video game trade association president issued the following statement about video game addiction: 'All those who play computer or video games need to take personal responsibility to ensure they use games in a sensible and appropriate way, as tens of millions of people do every day.
