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Is Internet Gaming Addictive? By Kurt D. Weaver and Madeline A. Campbell
Kurt D. Weaver is a partner at Womble Bond Dickinson LLP. He is a mass torts trial attorney and practices with Womble’s Advance Services Medical and Scientific Solutions group, researching, evaluating, and preparing medical and scientific experts for litigation. kurt.weaver@ wbd-us.com
Dr. Madeline A. Campbell has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Kentucky and has been at Womble Bond Dickinson LLP since 1996. Dr. Campbell is a medico-legal and scientific consultant, part of Medical and Scientific Solutions, an Advance Services practice of Womble Bond Dickinson. madeline.campbell @wbd-us.com
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orty plus years ago, society used the label of addiction for few things — hard drugs being the most recognizable. Today people use “addicted” broadly when discussing how much someone likes chocolate, food, sex, shopping, gambling and surfing the internet, but what really counts as an addiction? Today, over 90 percent of children and adolescents play video games. Many spend substantial time playing (seven hours and seven minutes per week, on average). A similar trend line can be found in adult behavior as well. Is gaming a new addiction and will there be a wave of litigation as a result? For decades, the public health community has sought to address life-style problems to protect and improve health. Its work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases — a worthy pursuit. The investigation, testing, and warnings it issues have educated and protected society from many harms, including foodborne illnesses, motor vehicle dangers, children’s toys and car seat carriers, and workplace hazards.
