BBC News announced today that a teenager is being treated for text messaging and e-mail addiction in what is believed to be the first case of its kind in Scotland.

The 19-year-old was sending about 700 texts a week and resigned from his job after bosses found out he had sent 8,000 e-mails in one month. In the space of a year, he spent £4,500 on text messaging.

He said bosses at work confronted him with statistics showing the number of e-mails he had sent and demanded an explanation. The teenager resigned from his job rather than face disciplinary procedures. He said there was something comforting about receiving text messages on his mobile phone and there was always an element of curiosity when he received a message.