World of Warcraft is as addicting as heroin

[MrGFunk]

Maybe they could prescribe it to addicts instead of methadone to ween them off the horse.

Seriously, I can understand it might be addictive but as much as heroin?
I haven't played WoW but does it make you feel like everything is perfect. I doubt it.

I'd rather risk trying WoW rather than heroin.

 

[PartyMonkey]

Meh I can believe it, but is it as addictive as Guitar Hero?

 

[MetallicaRulez0]

That's ridiculous.
You can get bored of WoW.

Yep. I'm one of the ones who plays the game a very unhealthy amount, and I still have to take several days to a week off at least once every 6 months, just to avoid burning myself out.

When was the last time you heard of someone getting bored of heroin?

 

[wierdman51]

me and my friend set up a schedule i get it b4 3pm, and him after it. i use one hour of that time, then stop. he uses the time till 12 oclock, it is an addiction,hes gotten fatter , lazier and the only things he does other than i is, eat sleep school, then he goes ight back onto it...... it IS an addiction.

 

[Alyssa the gamer girl]

i remeber seeing an article in the newspaper about this. some university or somthing did a study and found out that WoW is more addictive than crack.

 

[DYin01]

People who get addicted with WoW have no power of will. They're weak minded because they can't seperate the game from real life. Now, I shouldn't downtalk these people any more, because WoW is a good escape from real life because it's social but you can just walk away without consequences and of course it's addicting as a game.

But anyway, I still have social contacts and friends with whom I regularly hang out and NOT talk about WoW with. I even have a girlfriend (le gasp) who also plays WoW frequently (nowai). In fact, she's going to drag me into a dungeon later to get me beat up (tank) and then mend my wounds. All in all, WoW can be addictive to people who are vulnerable to it. I for one, am not. I enjoy it and I've even played it for 12 hours straight on days, but I can still quit any time I want!

 

[Marble Dragon]

As I've said before, only idiots blame everything on video games. How about the parents of that kid, who didn't even notice that he wasn't sleeping? What about the kid's own mind? It's not the game's fault if the kid's being dumb.

 

[Hitman 43]

*SNIP*

This to me is just an idiotic report.

 

[Iron Sea]

Not sure about anyone else, but in the time I played WoW I was very off and on, irregularly playing for some time, getting bored and then seeing if Scrubs was on or deciding to read a book. WoW is an addicting drug to people with no self control and who are usually under the age spectrum of 'mature' (though it is a teen game, oh well).

Point is, if you're stupid, you're addicted.

 

[PyroZombie]

I don't play it, because i'm not risking addiction. I'll just keep to my cocaine thank you very much.

 

[The Youth Counselor]

http://www.wowdetox.com/about.php

Addiction is actually a serious matter in our community that we don't take seriously enough. We've all heard the stories about people who died due to blood poisoning refusing to sleep, eat or use the bathroom, but it's closer than we think.

How many of us have pulled all nighters to finish a game and felt unable to carry through the next day when we had to do something? Or put of work to do tedious chores in MMORPGs.

I recently actually had an intervention for a friend who is disabled. We haven't seen or heard from him in almost two months and we knew he just stayed indoors all day playing EVE Online. When we saw him he skin was peeling like he was burnt and smelled terrible due to poor hygiene. He was so skinny, he could barely stand and hadn't left his apartment ever since losing his job.

 

[caz105]

Is the OP aware that things like heroin and nicotine contain chemicals that interact with the brain making people addicted? There is none of that in WOW.

Its why I get pissed off when fat poeple talk about being addicted to shit food. Its not the same. Show some will power.

Food is quite addictive though, I mean look at the withdrawal symptoms no-one has ever survived them.

 

[AncientYoungSon]

I played WoW for a year and a few months before quitting and while I agree that it's addictive, a CHEMICAL addiction is something you cannot grow bored of.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Some guy
Besides WoW won't kill you if you stop playing it, heroin on the other hand .....

will only make you sick. The only drug that is deadly to witdrawl from is Alcohol

It can kill if you are in a bad state of health. Basically opiate withdrawal causing complications in already existing medical problems.

Also, you can get bored of a chemical addiction. I did, a combination of tolerance and boredom in the associated lifestyle.

 

[insanejigsaw]

I got the free trial was bored in 5 min. Also I doubt its as addicting as heroin

 

[Bretty]

Baby Jesus does not like the OP

 

[The Youth Counselor]

Is the OP aware that things like heroin and nicotine contain chemicals that interact with the brain making people addicted? There is none of that in WOW.

Its why I get pissed off when fat poeple talk about being addicted to shit food. Its not the same. Show some will power.

To rebute your food statement: Studies have shown that junk food release chemicals into the brain that trigger pleasure sensations through opiods and seratonin. Studies on animals and humans who have been exposed to sugar, fats and caffeine for long periods and then witheld from it, go through withdrawal symptoms that include chattering of teeth, anxiety and walking around your circles.

However, you are absolutely right. In this world, people undermine and forsake personal responsibility. Each one of us do what we do simply because we choose to and we have the power inside of us to make a change if we have the will.

 

[TikiShades]

I got the free trial was bored in 5 min. Also I doubt its as addicting as heroin

5 minutes isn't really enough to judge a game. Hell, most games are still on the tutorial level after 5 minutes. :/

Edited to make new post. You people and your fast comments.

 

[Beltaine]

The Youth Care Foundation (Stiftelsen Ungdomsvård), which works to advocate active alternatives to gaming, described the game as "the cocaine of the computer games world".

So, who is this "Youth Care Foundation in Sweden?

The foundation, founded in 1991, works with all types of addiction and since 2007 this has included computer games. The group runs the help website spelfritt.se.

They are in the business of providing "care" for people suffering from "gaming addiction" at a facility called "Game Over" in Stockholm.

I can't imagine why a foundation that runs a business providing care for gaming addiciton would want to release a study showing that World of Warcraft is as addictive as cocaine. Would you?

*that was sarcasm, for those of you that haven't caught on by now*

Oh, and as for this "study"?

The foundation's report is as yet unpublished and is based on the experiences of gamers and their parents who have been in contact with the group.

Yeah, it's not even published. And appears to be based on hearsay and anecdotal evidence. This is no real scientific study.

Come on, people. Instead of getting riled up and talking out of your asses, do some homework and find out the real story when crap like this comes down the wire.

Source: http://www.thelocal.se/17840/20090226/