Iad Substance Abuse

A crippling aspect of our modern society is our habitual use of internet, and the immense connection it has to our lives. Many people find themselves consumed by the internet, having it interfere with their personal lives. Recently, increased internet usage has led to the development of Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) and those afflicted are suffering from a serious problem. They overuse the internet, causing them to become isolated from their loved ones. Their internet usage destroys their minds, causing problems like depression and anxiety. Worst of all, the effects of IAD on your neural pathways are identical to the effects of substance-abuse disorders. In the effort to battle IAD, solutions have included cutting off our internet usage

In this sense, IAD is similar to gambling, an addiction not substance fueled yet very similar. Dr. Elias Aboujaoude, a psychiatrist at Stanford, claims that, when comparing reward pathways in substance-abusers to those of internet users, “Similar pathways seem activated" (McClurg). Since IAD manifests itself similarly to substance-abuse disorders, it should be treated as one. An example of this would be smoking, a substance-abuse disorder which plagues many people yet is often used in moderation. If we could use the internet equivalent of one smoke a day, it would be easier to handle the effects of IAD. Regardless of problems, the internet is a must-have in everyday life. It is deeply connected to everything we do, be that our jobs or communication. According to the Pew Research Center 88% of American adults use the internet. The fact that nine-in-ten Americans use the internet regularly shows how reliant we have become on the internet. Though the internet is proven to have merits, I still suggest that we should limit its usage for our health. By setting aside time for socializing rather than online, we can counteract the effects of