t people may be using the Internet to substitute for other addictions. When someone finally realizes they have a problem, however, help is available. There are a number of web sites available for the treatment of Internet addiction. They include sites like Welcome to the Web Addicts Detox Page or ”The Internet Anonymous Virtual Meeting Page.“ There is even software available for addicts. One such package is Graham’s Mac Shareware. However, trying to cure on-line addiction by going on-line is probably not the best answer. Face to face counseling is probably the best method for dealing with this problem. The availability of this type of counseling is expanding rapidly. Over the past two years, two major clinics have also been established to treat this addiction. One that was mentioned earlier is at Harvard University’s McClean Hospital in Boston. The other is the Center for On-Line Addiction at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The latter is Directed by Dr. Kimberly S. (6) Young whose research was also mentioned earlier. To this date, her clinic alone has reviewed more than 400 Internet Addiction cases.8 The Internet has grown rapidly since its beginnings in 1973. It has spread to all corners of the earth bringing multitudes of information and communication capabilities to people everywhere. The problem for some people is that it may be too much to control. Addiction to the Internet affects the victim both psychologically and socially. Research in this area is still in the beginning phases, but the results warrant further studies. If you feel that you are losing control, help is available both on and off-line. However, the best advice offered by experts for when you begin losing touch with reality is to just pull the plug. (7) ...
