KOLKATA: Psychiatrist J Ram stressed the importance of the right kind of therapy for kids addicted to gaming, adding it was very important to “substitute” online games with something they would be interested in.
It is the interaction of genes and environmental factors that determine the chances of someone’s propensity to addiction, said researchers at Institute of Neurosciences Kolkata. Once an addiction starts activating the “opiate receptors” or pleasure-inducing cells of the brain, the entire neurological system gets dependent on it and starts “demanding” the stimulation, they said.
“Gaming generates feelings of pleasure, excitement and dependence similar to those produced by substances like heroin,” said Hrishikesh Kumar, head of the department of neurology, INK.
