A study by the Stanford University School of Medicine claims that nearly 14% of Americans may be addicted to the internet, exhibiting behavior associated with clinically defined addictions like alcoholism:

The study, carried out by researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine in California, US, indicates that more than one in eight US residents show signs of "problematic internet use"....

Most disturbing, according to the study's lead author Elias Aboujaoude, is the discovery that some people hide their internet surfing, or go online to cure foul moods – behaviour that mirrors the way alcoholics behave.

"Internet addiction" hasn't (yet) been officially recognized as an addiction by the medical community. But the study's conclusions are disturbing. Over one in ten Americans exhibiting signs of internet overuse? That means your church and maybe even your family are hiding a lot of hidden addicts whose internet use, however benign, might be corroding their relationships and sense of balance.

Is this something that worries you? Church leaders and counselors, is this something you're starting to see in your congregations? And what about your internet use--could you step away from the monitor for a week or two without craving internet access?