Identification

• Cell phone addiction is the inability to be away from your cell phone. In many cases, this means being on your cell phone five or more hours a day.
  
  

Symptoms

• In teens, cell phone addiction manifests itself in rising cell phone bill charges, panicking when they're without their phone, moodiness, frustration and a constant need to check their phone messages. General symptoms are feeling restless when not around the cell phone, irrational reactions (without cell phone around), problems at school and work, increased time on the phone and taking unnecessary risks (i.e. using the cell phone while driving).
  
  

Prevention

• Set time limits for time you spend on the phone, set time aside for activities (i.e. Sports, movies and other activities that don't involve the phone) and increase time with family and friends. If you try these measures and they don't work you may have to seek help from a therapist.
  
  

Expert Advice

• According to Drugrehabtreatments.com, experts recommend waiting to purchase a cell phone for your teenager in two other least 16 years of age. Other experts advise enforcing limits on cell phone usage.
  
  

Facts

• Two children aged 12 and 13 had to be admitted to a mental hospital due to cell phone addiction, according to Drugrehabtreatment.com.