Lecture on Gaming Addiction

Introduction

• Concerns over children's screen time.
• Gaming as a pastime vs. addiction.
• Extreme consequences of gaming addiction.

Case Study: Jake Uskoski

• Background:

  • Began playing video games early, influenced by older sibling.
  • Demonstrated excellent hand-eye coordination.

• Middle School:

  • Bullied at school, turned to online gaming.
  • Gaming replaced traditional social interactions.
  • Spent extensive hours gaming, affected sleep and other activities.

• University Challenges:

  • Unable to balance gaming and academics.
  • Lied to parents about academic performance.
  • Reached a crisis point with thoughts of suicide.

Statistics and Studies

• Center for Addiction and Mental Health: 13% of Ontario teens have gaming problems.
• Worldwide addiction estimates: 1-9%.
• Asian response: curfew and rehab centers in China and South Korea.

Gaming and Dopamine

• Games produce dopamine similar to substance abuse.
• Gaming addiction categorized as a disease by WHO.

Personal Stories

• Sean's Story:
  • Rapid decline into addiction and eventual suicide.
  • Game was designed to be addictive, according to mother.

Industry Challenges

• Gaming companies create addictive games for profit.
• Industry resists classification as a disease due to stigma.

Pandemic Impact

• Increase in gaming during the pandemic.
• Significant rise in digital game sales.
• Global increase in players.

Recovery and Support

• Cam Adair:

  • Former addict, founded Game Quitters.
  • Platform supports global users seeking help.
  • Emphasizes difference between hobby and addiction.

• Canada vs. U.S.:

  • Lack of specialized treatment centers in Canada.
  • U.S. has facilities like Restart in Washington.

Treatment Approaches

• Restart Program:
  • Intensive 3-month cold turkey model.
  • Focus on reintegration and life skills.

Personal Recovery Stories

• Jake's Recovery:

  • Mother’s support crucial in recovery.
  • Structured check-ins and accountability.
  • Living in recovery as a software engineer.

• Support During Pandemic:

  • Jake returns home to stay with mom.
  • Maintains strict routine for recovery.

Conclusion

• Gaming addiction is a significant mental health issue.
• Need for awareness, treatment, and support systems.
• Availability of resources like online quizzes to assess addiction risk.

Resources

• A six-question quiz available on W5's website to assess gaming addiction risk.