Gamers are more likely to be drunks and drug addicts

  • Posted January 25th, 2009 at 01:04 EDT by
  • 5,919 views
  • 125 Comments

A recent US study conducted at Brigham Young University in Utah has revealed that gamers are more likely to drink alcohol or take drugs. Furthermore, the surveyors concluded that this phenomena also affects a gamer's social life as well. The study was overlooked by Professor Laura Walker, who insisted that gamers are prone to a lot of negative possibilities.

"The most striking part is that everything we found clustered around video game use is negative. It appears video games are related to a host of other negative outcomes."

A little over 800 university students were surveyed during this study, which is how they came to rest that gamers are 10% more likely to abuse these habits.

"It may be that young adults remove themselves from important social settings to play video games, or that people who already struggle with relationships are trying to find other ways to spend their time," said Walker. "My guess is that it's some of both and becomes circular."

It's puzzling that University students would be questioned in a study such as this as they are more prone to partying and recreational drug use more so than any other age group, if other studies are to be believed. This would be the equivalent of quizzing individuals if water is wet or not.

What do you guys think?

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What are your thoughts?

  1. ryanworldleader | ryanworldleader

    • 1:10am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 1

    That is some baby back bull. Next they are gonna say gamers are more likely to commit murder.

  2. Anim3Fr33K | Anim3Fr33K

    • 1:20am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 2

    lol

  3. chomperbull

    • 1:50am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 3

    i would like to deny it but its true theres nothing like having a cold one while playing videogames

  4. grayfox1471 | SaintGeorge14

    • 1:50am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 4

    I think it has more to do with a common age of drinkers/drug users and those who play games. I mean, Sony and Microsoft shoot for that 18-35 crowd, and those are probably the ages of people who would admit to drinking and using drugs.

  5. a_stray_bullet10

    • 1:53am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 5

    the study was done by a woman? well that explains it all.

  6. Stoffinator | Stoffinator

    • 1:54am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 6

    I must be the odd one out. I've never done any of those. :-p

  7. Zwaga

    • 1:56am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 7

    Not just a woman, but a mormon.  You can't conduct a test on something that is bannished by you religion.

  8. djrussell | djrussell89

    • 2:09am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 8

    lol To seriously have any faith in this rediculous study is to have a serious mental disability. Gamers are 10% more likely to take drugs/alcohol? lol Come off it... and drug dealers on the East coast are 10% less likely to sample their own product... and athletes on the other side of the road consume 10% more water. Idiots.

  9. chilomaniac

    • 2:09am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 9

    well we have to say that it might be a good combination but is not like that ,unsted  this time that we spend playing video games is time that we are not drinking or taking drugs in the street.

    i really enjoy playing pes2008 drinking a couple of beers whit my  friends but is the same thing when we are looking a futbol game or having a barbucue etc.

    this is bull %&(/&%  there is always some budy triying to get attention !!!

  10. saso_7 | goose_7

    • 2:12am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 10

    i think its bull. i mean there are some loser gamer nerds out there who have no social life whatsoever & might drink & do drugs, but still its bull. i love video games, i consider myself to be a huge gamer, i dont do drugs, i drink occasionally, i've had a gf for 2 1/2 years, my social life is great, i hang out with my friends from school...im pretty sure the majority of you guys/girls are in the same situation...that study is a load of crap

  11. C0SM0NECR0

    • 2:19am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 11

    Gaming drove me to drinking.  It was TOO STRESSFUL on me.  LOL.  All these fun different games have made me become a heroin addict.  And you are so right Chomperbull.

  12. edward_moffet | edd

    • 2:19am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 12

    complete bull, i have never drank or smoked or done any other type of recreational drugs in my life and i love video games and am a hardcore gamer.

  13. bnolan56 | snowy311

    • 2:21am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 13

    I agree, I love drinking and smoking weed but in no way shape or form am I an addict. So, I guess I don't know half and half. They are more likely to be but definately not all of them. I can easily drop both, but they are fun things to do with friends and make life more enjoyable. (BTW Drugs and Alcohol are to escape reality arguement is total bs) No one does it to escape problems everyone does it because its fun and makes you feel good. Even when your sober weed just turns everything permanently funnier.

  14. TheRealCarbonfibre | Carbonfibre

    • 2:29am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 14

    I heard that professors who conduct these studies are 10% more likely to have no social life.

  15. clipnotdone

    • 2:44am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 15

    Im not an alcoholic, Im an Australian.



    THERES A DIFFERENCE
     

  16. gchild469

    • 2:45am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 16

    Well, lets see here, I am above the legal age to drink and I hardly drink at all and have never done any drugs in my life (nor want to).  Hmm, blows this theory out of the water.  Besides that, a mormon college in Utah doing a study on this?  Would love to know who her "sample population" was.  I bet we would all laugh about this.

     

  17. Flashjoker | FlashJoker

    • 2:47am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 17

    water isnt wet

  18. darthrazorback

    • 2:56am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 18

    BUUUULLLLLLL.  BYU is a nutty religious school.

  19. ypaotroicn

    • 3:05am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 19

    hmmmm... i don't think gaming is necessarily the cause, but just the statistic could be true haha.

  20. xxIvErx

    • 3:06am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 20

    She's right, the only reason I started eating mushrooms and shooting up needles in me is because Mario & Luigi taught me that it's ok to eat mushrooms in order to grow big and strong LMAO

  21. hitman8062 | hitman8062

    • 3:13am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 21

    *take a gulp from his beer and a wiff from his weed*

    WHAT THATS CRAZY

    *passes out*

  22. clipnotdone

    • 3:39am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 22

    YAY FOR EDITS

    ALSO, none of these studies are ever accurate. 100 people doenst account for the entire world

     

  23. bungledude

    • 4:10am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 23

    I'm drunk and high right now,leave me alone .

  24. PSN_guru234 | guru234

    • 4:14am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 24

    HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!!! very funny i've been playin' games 4 a long!... time and i don't drink nor smoke so that so called "Study" is stupid!

  25. pmrsmiffy

    • 4:26am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 25

    What bull crap! Given the sample of people they used for the study they could have easily said that people studying at university are more likely to abuse drink and drugs. Just because they happen to play video games to pass the time makes no odds.

  26. ironflag55555 | ironflag555

    • 4:51am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 26

    my only drug is socom if that counts :)

  27. zakruz | zakruz

    • 5:10am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 27

    Only game I play drunk is.. Rock Band or SingStar. When I had my 360, I also played Halo 3 when I got back.. 4-5 am, that was funny! haha

  28. Odium_G

    • 5:52am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 28

    Article writer is in denial.  I've already seen it.  Besides, the games themselves are an addiction that nobody wants to admit to.  But honestly, how can you deny that there no addiction when kids can spend hours-upon-hours doin' it?

  29. Wallin | Wallin

    • 6:14am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 29

    Thats just down right hillaroius :P And for my own accord i neither consume alcohol nor do i do drugs.

  30. lordAlucard | Sympozium_666

    • 6:18am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 30

    ? I know the risk so I won't take the risk but is this because of Grand theft Auto? I'm getting tired of this trash

  31. RandomBeef

    • 6:27am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 31

    Well they did ask uni students who are probably one of the most likely peope to take drugs but none the less there is still that huge 90% left.

  32. Sonyfanboy-uk | Bloodfang-UK

    • 7:24am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 32

    Whats next attacking us gamers with gun licences i mean WTF i dont drink or do drugs but then again im sure she spent most of her time at crack houses.

  33. Promethius30 | Tealcsg1

    • 7:31am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 33

    its all the granys on the wii always stoned giving us a bad name

  34. Anim3Fr33K | Anim3Fr33K

    • 7:40am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 34

    they got it wrong, you do drugs or drink your 10% more likley to game. Think about it, people on a high would get a big trip out of the katamari games, and any drunken idiot would like to blast his friends in halo.

  35. superchatte | Debille

    • 7:59am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 35

    Totaly stupid . Evrybody knows that University students are role models when it come to smoking and drinking .... or is it  ???

  36. Halcyon

    • 8:06am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 36

    Wow university students in Utah are wicked! ... I mean  gamers... LOL

    Stupidity at it's best. University students as test subjects. LOL of the day.

    I guess I'm out of this study, since I don't like alcoholic drinks and never did drugs...

    Students... can't stop laughing :-D

  37. Zephyr | Zyrak

    • 8:07am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 37

    Because many young boys play games?! Like everyone I know play some kind of game. So this is madness! (Madness?!.. THIS... IS... SPARTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

  38. Strudel | Strudel

    • 8:08am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 38

    This is quite interesting, as a gamer and a complete and total piss head I think I'm causing a stereotype, however as a gamer, most of my hardcore gamer friends are just normal people who are obcessed with gaming, and don't really drink all that much. However as a pisshead I know loads of druggies and fellow piss heads, and I'd say that most of them don't really play that many video games, they all seem to be more into music or night life and generally think that my gaming habit is weird.

  39. jim6669

    • 8:09am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 39

    statistics don't prove anything

  40. UpolJoZelda5

    • 8:15am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 40

    Get your self out from Uni and suicide your self in the mount cliffs of Utah.

     

  41. alexdude1991

    • 8:21am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 41

    CORRELATION NOT CAUSATION

    drunks and drug addicts are more likely to be gamers NOT the other way round.

  42. Missolini | missolini

    • 8:29am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 42

    I completly agree, and people from Utah are in most cases pedophiles and living in closets.

  43. Mikleran

    • 8:53am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 43

    "What we find absolutely hilarious about this study is the fact that they decided to ask University students if they drink alcohol. This would be the equivalent of quizzing individuals if water is wet or not."

    Ehh... I know plenty of people around here who don't drink alcohol. You're right, the study is dubious at best but your way of arguing against it is wrong. 10% more likely on a study of 800 people could simply be a sample error.

  44. MrAce | mrace

    • 8:55am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 44

    "800 university students were surveyed" what else do students do at university to blow off steam, you go boozing on a night and smoke a spliff. Doesn't mean you're an addict, they should have done this study outside of the uni, doesn't prove a thing.

  45. Craig-Handley | craig-handley

    • 9:03am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 45

     Its more likely going to be the gamers on 360, or Wii, because they aren't as hardcore as the PS3.

  46. Togbis | Togbis

    • 9:06am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 46

    Yearh, all the people playing wii sports are sure to be drug addicts.

  47. Dragoonlord | KillZone3000

    • 10:06am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 47

    lol.wth that as to do with videogames????

  48. Dassureth

    • 10:08am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 48

    i wanna turn that around and say, drug addcits/alcoholics are more likely to play video games because they are too wasted to be serious into sports or other activites.

  49. GoTaX | Tio_MigueL

    • 10:15am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 49

    I agree ryan lol. Maybe they´re saying all this crap and that prof. Laura is also a videogamer.

  50. markwesker

    • 10:16am GMT - January 25th, 2009
    • 50

    This was done with uni students,omg what do expect then.there seeing what they want to see...its like asking people who go to church if they play videos games then saying most gamers are bible bashers.

    unless its nationwide from all backgrounds this means nothing.btw i dont do drugs and i love games.

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