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iQuestions Faculty, Dr. David Eckman 
 
 
Question: 
 
Is addiction just an American phenomenon? 
 
Answer: 
 
Addiction is not an American phenomenon. Addiction is a human 
phenomenon. 
 
A couple of months ago, I was in Beijing, China, at a medical 
conference, and the whole center of the conference seemed to be 
internet addiction for Chinese youth. Literally, they would send health 
workers into internet centers, computer centers, to check to see if 
these kids are alive. They’ll spend day, after day, after day, after day 
at a computer terminal. 
 
Addiction typically is specific to a culture. That is, alcoholism may 
sweep through an Eskimo culture, just as pornography is sweeping 
through the American culture— but it’s not an American phenomenon. 
It’s the condition of the human heart, and it’s the chaos and stress 
that cultures invite onto themselves. 
 
And so, it’s not unique to ourselves, but we do have some unique 
challenges, and the unique challenge facing us right now is the 
internet challenge in pornography. 
 
But this is part of the human condition. It’s not just an American 
condition. 
 
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