1cooldude
April 2nd, 2009, 08:36 PM
The massively popular fantasy role-playing game World of Warcraft is "more addictive than crack cocaine", experts have warned.
http://i40.tinypic.com/9gv9uc.jpg
Some 11 million play World Of Warcraft
The computer game, played by millions, has been dubbed "the most dangerous game on the market" by addiction therapists at Sweden's Youth Care Foundation.
A 15-year-old Swedish boy collapsed and went into convulsions after playing it for 24 hours earlier this month.
The report's author Sven Rollenhagen said: "There is not a single case of game addiction that we have worked with in which World of Warcraft has not played a part.
"It is the crack cocaine of the computer gaming world. Some people are literally unable to drag themselves away and will play it till they drop."
The Swedish National Institute of Public Health backed the report, adding: "Computer game addiction is becoming more widespread in Sweden and across the world.
"There is no known medical diagnosis of conditions brought on by excessive game-playing, but it is clear they have a very powerful addictive hold over many people who use them."
The boy was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with an epileptic-type seizure brought on by sleep deprivation, lack of food, and too much time in front of a screen.
The game's US makers Blizzard Entertainment say 11 million people worldwide play World of Warcraft.
Psychiatrist Dr Richard Graham, of London's Tavistock Centre, said: "Some of my clients will discuss playing games for 14, 16 hours a day at times, without breaks and without attending to their physical needs.
"For those, the consequences are potentially severe."
Source... (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/World-Of-Warcraft-Computer-Game-More-Addictive-Than-Crack-Cocaine-Say-Experts-In-Sweden/Article/200902415231644?lpos=World_News_Second_Technology_ Article_Teaser_Region__8&lid=ARTICLE_15231644_World_Of_Warcraft%3A_Computer _Game_More_Addictive_Than_Crack_Cocaine%2C_Say_Exp erts_In_Sweden)
http://i40.tinypic.com/9gv9uc.jpg
Some 11 million play World Of Warcraft
The computer game, played by millions, has been dubbed "the most dangerous game on the market" by addiction therapists at Sweden's Youth Care Foundation.
A 15-year-old Swedish boy collapsed and went into convulsions after playing it for 24 hours earlier this month.
The report's author Sven Rollenhagen said: "There is not a single case of game addiction that we have worked with in which World of Warcraft has not played a part.
"It is the crack cocaine of the computer gaming world. Some people are literally unable to drag themselves away and will play it till they drop."
The Swedish National Institute of Public Health backed the report, adding: "Computer game addiction is becoming more widespread in Sweden and across the world.
"There is no known medical diagnosis of conditions brought on by excessive game-playing, but it is clear they have a very powerful addictive hold over many people who use them."
The boy was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with an epileptic-type seizure brought on by sleep deprivation, lack of food, and too much time in front of a screen.
The game's US makers Blizzard Entertainment say 11 million people worldwide play World of Warcraft.
Psychiatrist Dr Richard Graham, of London's Tavistock Centre, said: "Some of my clients will discuss playing games for 14, 16 hours a day at times, without breaks and without attending to their physical needs.
"For those, the consequences are potentially severe."
Source... (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/World-Of-Warcraft-Computer-Game-More-Addictive-Than-Crack-Cocaine-Say-Experts-In-Sweden/Article/200902415231644?lpos=World_News_Second_Technology_ Article_Teaser_Region__8&lid=ARTICLE_15231644_World_Of_Warcraft%3A_Computer _Game_More_Addictive_Than_Crack_Cocaine%2C_Say_Exp erts_In_Sweden)