In article <01bbccf6$1f5b0320$dccd6981 at lkn033.nwu.edu>, "LKN"
<lkn033 at casbah.acns.nwu.edu> wrote:
@--> > 3) No obvious or unambiguous definition of addiction exists.
@--> Rubbish. Miller et al. (Advances in Alcohol & Substance Abuse.
@--> 8(3-4):33-42,1990), for example, use the DSM-III-R criteria. for substance
@--> dependence. They also define it elsewhere (in Journal of Substance Abuse
@--> Treatment. 6(3):183-92, 1989)
Lars,
The definition you've applied to marijuana "addiction," warm and fuzzy
though it may be is not the classical Pharmacological definition of
addiction, where absence of the addictive substance has measurable
physiological effect which often lead to the behaviors described in your
definitio0n. Consider caffeine. Chronic use causes dependence
(addiction), and withdrawal symptoms emerge if the addiction is not
satisfied. However, you'd be hard pressed to define it as addictive using
the psycho-babbelian terms you posted.
To lighten this up and to point out the inadequacy, and inaccuracy, of the
definition you've chosen, I offer the following. I've substituted an
"addictive" substance commonly abused by children, adolescents, and
college students for the words cannabis and Marijuana.
> 3) No obvious or unambiguous definition of addiction exists.
Rubbish. Miller et al. (Advances in Alcohol & Substance Abuse.
8(3-4):33-42,1990), for example, use the DSM-III-R criteria. for substance
dependence. They also define it elsewhere (in Journal of Substance Abuse
Treatment. 6(3):183-92, 1989)
The definition of video game (Video game) dependence (addiction)
contains three critical elements. These are (a) preoccupation with the
acquisition of video games, (b) compulsive use of video games, (c) relapse
to or
recurrent use of the video game. The manifestations of abnormal video
game use may assume many forms. Medical, psychiatric, neurological,
traumatic, and sociological sequelae occur commonly in acute and chronic
video game use. Video game dependence must be diagnosed primarily as the
etiological or precipitating agent to adequately prevent and treat these
conditions. The central role of video game addiction can be identified.
The consequences of the video game addiction should be separated from the
video game addict's actual motivation or craving to use video game. Video
game addicts use abnormally because of what video game does to them and
not for them. A video game reinforces its own use. Psychosocial stressors
are not required to produce a video game addiction in biologically
susceptible individuals. Consequences that result from an addiction to
video game do not produce the abnormal use. A presumptive diagnosis of
video game dependence (addiction) can be established by detecting
significant consequences associated with video game use. A definitive
diagnosis entails confirming the presence of addictive behavior by
identifying a preoccupation, compulsivity and relapse relative to the
drug, video games.
Hey, upon further reading of this passage, I'm in total agreement with
your definition. WE NEED A VIDEO GAME CZAR TO FIGHT THE WAR ON DRUGS!
:-Peter
