Drug commissioner warns of media dependence

Federal Drug Commissioner: More than half a million Germans suffer from Internet addiction

08/10/2012

The excessive use of the Internet is becoming an addiction among more and more people in Germany. The Federal Drug Commissioner has therefore warned in a recent press release before the increasing media dependence. At the annual meeting of drug commissioners, the „Excessive and pathological computer game and Internet usage“ the main topic.

The appeal of social networks, online games and cybersex is simply too big for many people. Loud „In a first representative study, an estimated 560,000 people in Germany are Internet dependent in the age group 14-64, with far-reaching social and health consequences“, Report the Federal Drug Commissioner Mechthild Dyckmans. According to the experts, media dependency is noticeable, for example, in a neglect of social contacts, personal hygiene, nutrition and health. With appropriate references therapeutic help should be claimed, because even those concerned are no longer able to control their media use.

Excessive, pathological computer game and internet usage
The Internet is today an integral part of professional and private life, but while the „Most people benefit from the benefits of the Internet, some show an excessive usage behavior, from which they find it difficult to find out without help“, so the message of the Federal Drug Commissioner. Dyckmans intends to use this year's annual conference to discuss extensively „the current developments and findings on excessive and pathological computer game and Internet use“ to inform. The possibilities of prevention, counseling and treatment should also be discussed. Counseling centers and other initiatives have the opportunity to present their successful approaches to the interested professional audience. But the positive possibilities that the Internet offers for prevention and counseling work should also be discussed. „The results of the meeting will feed into my political work“, explained the federal drug commissioner. (Fp)

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Picture: pepsprog