A Nigerian doctor has warned users of becoming addicted to Information Communication Technology (ICT). According to Dr Maymunah Kadiri, President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) based at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba, addiction leads to several health issues.

“Addiction causes marital discord, shallow relationships, lack of personal hygiene and social interaction with other people, loss of good eating habits and poor academic performance. When a person is addicted to social networks, television and the internet, he or she often forgets to do anything else,” she told delegates during a lecture.

During her ‘Information Technology: The new drug of addiction’ lecture, she said users should note the consequences of addiction.

“Some forget their personal hygiene, food. Some do not bother to interact with other people and discord between husband and wife grows,” she said.

She said that various researches indicated people addicted to social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, just drug and alcohol addiction results in academic failure. Kadiri advised children to be cautious when watching television, playing games on the internet, adding that adults should watch the way they use information technology devices, so as not to get addicted,” Leadership magazine wrote.