Net Addiction is a Growing Problem: Stanford

Researchers at Stanford School of Medicine have found that one out of eight Americans shows at least one possible sign of Iinternet addiction. The survey shows that Americans are slowly getting unhealthily attached to cyberspace.

Researchers at the Stanford's Impulse Control Disorders Clinic say that patients' strong drive to compulsively use the Internet to check e-mail, make blog entries or visit Web sites or chat rooms, is similar to what patients of substance abuse or impulse-control disorders experience.

According to the study, the typical affected individual is a single, college-educated, white male in his 30s, who spends approximately 30 hours a week on non-essential computer use and pornography sites. A clinical assistant at Stanford's Impulse Control Disorders Clinic said, "Not surprisingly, online pornography and, to some degree, online gambling, have received the most attention—but users are as likely to use other sites, including chat rooms, shopping venues and special-interest Web sites."

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The study showed that 68.9 percent were regular Internet users, which is consistent with previous studies, but also revealed that 13.7 percent found it hard to stay away from the Internet for several days at a time, 8.7 percent attempted to conceal non-essential Internet use from family, friends and employers, 8.2 percent used the Internet as a way to escape problems or relieve negative mood and 5.9 percent felt their relationships suffered as a result of excessive Internet use.

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