The top ten addictions. “Media” is no1 ahead of drugs, booze, meds, tobacco

Oct 1, 2010 by Dirk Singer

Adam Ferrier of the Consumer Psychologist blog points us to this piece of research in ‘Masters in Public Health’ on top ten (US) addictions.  And by “addictions” they mean in the clinical sense – “when one’s body and mind become wholly ensconced in their obsession.” So what’s no1?  The media:

Apparently the University of Maryland issued a challenge to 200 volunteers asking them to do without any form of mass media for 24 hours.   That meant no Internet, TV, MP3 player and other gadgets.   Even out of those that made it through, the common reaction was “feeling disconnected from their friends and family.”

Given the way in which we are tethered to all forms of media on a minute-by-minute basis, Masters in Public Health concludes that this is “probably the most common addiction in the United States.”

So media is more addictive than prescription meds, booze, gambling, cocaine and cigarettes.   The top ten list is as follows:

1 – Media
2 – Tobacco
3 – Alcohol
4 – Marijuana
5 – Food
6 – Gambling
7 – Prescription drugs
8 – Bulimia
9 – Cocaine
10 – Hallucinogens

Above image – From One Seven One

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