In a sensational report that would have even The Daily Mail recoiling in horror and disgust, a story in The Lancashire Evening Post – as spotted by CVG – has likened video game ‘addiction’ to taking cocaine.

Counsellor Steve Pope told the paper: “A lot of young people get themselves into a situation where they use video games as an escape from the world and they get hooked on the release of adrenaline it gives.

“Spending two hours on a game station is equivalent to taking a line of cocaine in the high it produces. It is the fastest growing addiction in the country and this is affecting young people mentally, as well as leading to physical problems such as obesity. It gives parents peace and quiet, but it becomes a concern when it is all the child wants to do.

Not content with likening gaming to amphetamine addiction, Pope goes on to claim that video game violence can – in his words – spiral into the real world.

“Computer game addiction can also spiral into violence as after playing violent games, they may turn their fantasy games into reality,” he assured. “But it is not just children who are suffering – a growing number of adults are addicted to the Internet and to sites like Facebook.

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“I am working with one family where a 74-year-old grandmother is addicted to online poker, her daughter is addicted to eBay and has bought 270 pairs of shoes and her grand-daughter is addicted to Facebook.

“The poisoned chalice is being handed down through the generations.”