Internet Addiction Center Opens in Missouri

Submitted by Gary on Thu, 2010-04-01 at 19:09

A treatment center in Missouri has opened up a mental health program that is geared towards people with online addictions. The decision came after many US residents reported their concerns over legalized online gambling and the negative effects it can potentially have on society. The medical industry’s answer was to show that they are ready for an increase in addictions but hope the program won’t be necessary for too many people.

Physicians and therapists that will work out of the facility say that the hardest part of diagnosing an internet addiction is determining how much time spent online is too much. They went on to say that an addiction is usually present when the person will spend more time online than with his or her own family. Little to no interest in extracurricular activities or seeing friends is an early sign of addiction while later symptoms can include depression, health problems such as a vitamin D deficiency or muscle wasting from no sunlight exposure and a lack of exercise.

Internet addictions are treated as very serious because they can lead to major stressors such as divorce, the individual losing their job, as well as significant financial problems. In fact, studies have shown that gambling addictions have the highest suicide rates of any other addiction because the person’s financial and personal situations get so bad that they don’t see any other way out.

The Missouri facility is confident that other states will respond to the presence of online gambling with the same actions and that treatment centers will begin to pop up all over the country. If the potential for a problem exists, it is wise to establish a solution ahead of time.