Windsor is playing host today to the first ever Digital Dependency Awareness Conference in Ontario.
The conference is at Caesars Windsor from 9am-4pm and will highlight best practices, clinical tools and intiatives to deal with the growing problem of youths and adults becoming addicted to video games and the internet.
Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare has the first residential treatment program for video game and internet dependencies in Ontario. Currently, there are 20 people in the program.
Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Xbox & Gears Of War 4
Program Co-ordinator for Addiction Programs at Hotel-Dieu Grace Shawn Rumble says there are huge ramifications from this type of addiction.
"We have seen individuals coming into our care that have relationship breakdowns, marital breakdowns, they have lost their jobs, increased debt load and expulsion from school," says Rumble.
This is National Addictions Awareness Week.