The popular computer game World of Warcraft has been dubbed “crack cocaine of the computer world”. It could well be the most dangerous game currently on the market, addiction therapists say. 

Recently a 15-year-old boy from Sweden was rushed to hospital after collapsing, having played the World of Warcraft non-stop for 24 hours. He was diagnosed with having an epileptic attack caused by a lack of sleep, food and too much concentration. Luckily, the boy recovered completely and his father announced initiating a campaign for the raising of awareness of other parents about the dangers of long-term playing of computer games, the Telegraph reported.

The Swedish Public Health Institute issued a statement saying that addiction on computer games was more widespread in Sweden than anywhere else in the world.

Blizzard Entertainment, the company that produces World of Warcraft, said 11 million people around the world were playing this game, making it the most popular MMORPG game in the world.

Psychiatrist Richard Graham says some of his patients play computer games for 14 or 16 hours straight, without taking any pause for their physical needs.

- Such prolonged gaming can produce a sort of socially withdrawn figure who may be connecting with people in the game, but is largely dropping out of education and other social opportunities –Graham said.