Non-substance addictions (including internet use) lack the physical dependence created by drugs like cocaine. So, it would be hard to compare them to &quot;super-crack&quot;.<p>I could certainly see how, for example, repeatedly checking your phone could mirror the behavioral aspect of smoking cigarettes. However, losing your phone won&#x27;t cause withdrawal symptoms like headache, nausea, or fatigue.<p>Also, I&#x27;d agree that social behavior being focused around online interaction could potentially serve as a deterrent (or at least distraction) from drug use &#x2F; crime. Based on Todd Kendall&#x27;s paper [Pornography, Rape, and the Internet](<a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;idei.fr&#x2F;sites&#x2F;default&#x2F;files&#x2F;medias&#x2F;doc&#x2F;conf&#x2F;sic&#x2F;papers_2007&#x2F;kendall.pdf" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;idei.fr&#x2F;sites&#x2F;default&#x2F;files&#x2F;medias&#x2F;doc&#x2F;conf&#x2F;sic&#x2F;paper...</a>), porn has been responsible in some part for the decreasing rate of rape, but not other crimes. I can&#x27;t find much research on non-rape crime being affected by internet use, but the St. Helena TV study by Tony Charlton did show that aggressiveness in children was reduced by the introduction of TV. Obviously TV is far less interactive than web-browsing, but it&#x27;s the most similar study I can find. :P