Social:On-Line Gamers Anonymous
On-Line Gamers Anonymous (OLGA) is a twelve-step program for recovery from video game addiction that operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States .[1] OLGA was founded by Elizabeth (Liz) Woolley in 2002 after her son, Shawn Woolley, committed suicide while logged into EverQuest.[2][3]
Description
OLGA provides a variety of message boards, face-to-face meetings in local chapters, chat rooms, on-line meetings, and other tools for people (gamers as well as friends and family) to use for their own healing and to support each other.[4][5][6] OLGA is volunteer run organization and fields approximately 500 Internet and phone inquiries per day.[7]
Chapters
Currently, On-Line Gamers Anonymous has an active face-to-face 12-step meeting in London, Ontario, Canada that was founded in November, 2008.[8] There is also a chapter in Washington, D.C., which was started in October, 2009.[9][10] There are additional chapters throughout the United States and in Poland and Israel.[11]
See also
- Computer widow
- Game addiction
- Internet addiction disorder
- Video game addiction
References
- ↑ "CyberSightings". CyberPsychology & Behavior 6 (1): 107–113. 2003. doi:10.1089/109493103321168018.
- ↑ Spain, Judith W.; Vega, Gina (Spring 2005). "Everquest: Entertainment or Addiction?". The CASE Journal 1 (2): 60–66. doi:10.1108/TCJ-01-2005-B006.
- ↑ Spain, Judith W.; Vega, Gina (May 2005). "Sony Online Entertainment: EverQuestor EverCrack?". Journal of Business Ethics 58 (1): 3–6. doi:10.1007/s10551-005-1376-9.
- ↑ "OLGA Community Message Boards". http://www.olganon.org/forums/community-forums.
- ↑ "OLGA / OLG-Anon Calendar of Events & Meetings". http://www.olganon.org/meeting-calendar.
- ↑ "OLG-Anon (Family/Friends) Message Boards". http://www.olganon.org/forums/olg-anon-familyfriends-forums.
- ↑ Campbell, Colin and Gatehouse, Jonathon. (November 10, 2008). "What Happened to Brandon?". Maclean's: p. 52.
- ↑ Pedro, Kelly (November 8, 2008). "Gamers, at any cost". The London Free Press.
- ↑ "Recovery for online gaming addiction, OnLine Gamers Anonymous - DC Chapter Home". http://www.olganon.org/welcome-recovering-gamers.
- ↑ "Washington, D.C. Chapter". http://www.olganon.org/chapter/bethesda-maryland-20814/washington-dc-bethesda-md-20240.
- ↑ "Face-to-Face Chapters | On-line Gamers Anonymous®". http://www.olganon.org/chapters?field_profile_location_country=All&field_profile_location_administrative_area=&field_chapter_status_value=All.
External links
- On-Line Gamers Anonymous official website