Drugs and Videogames: A Curse to Gaming
Until now, the only major controversy that hit gaming was sex and violence. But now a more dangerous trend is emerging, drugs. Gamers are making use of powerful stimulants and ingenious drug combinations like Ecstasy and Viagra to gain a competitive advantage over their rivals. Social gaming or LAN parties as well as competitive gaming tournaments are encouraging more and more gamers to dope. Tournaments are offering a lot of money to winners. The rewards make it more suitable for gamers to turn to Ritalin, methamphetamine and cocaine as they believe it will help them be better at the games.
Dr. Maressa Orzack, a psychologist at Harvard Medical School says, “Amphetamines and methamphetamines are becoming popular and can certainly help you stay up for long hours and probably helps enhance the excitement. A lot of gamers, particularly the addicted ones, try to find ways to avoid sleep and keep their concentration.” She is also the founder and coordinator of the Computer Addiction Services clinic at McLean Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts. She treats video game addiction and considers that frequent game playing can lead to many gamers trying illegal substances to improve and extend their play.
Professional gaming tournaments discourage drugs, but they do not have a proper policy like other sports bodies have. This will encourage more gamers to do drugs and this is a volcano waiting to explode.
Hey, thank you very mush for this post. Its the first time I hear this. Its good. Some how its not so Big here is South Africa, or i just never saw it. we want to begin a Lan party this year in a mall, so my eyes must be sharp. But I will ask God to bless them anyway so that they will turn away from this time steeling hobby and use there time to grow in their Faith. Its great what you are doing. The Lord bless ya all.