As the world focus was recently on the dilemma of the Mexican swine flu outbreak, another insidious malady is steadily permeating our society before our very eyes. The recent MBTA train collision was a vivid example of the obsessive/compulsive condition prevailing in our society which I describe as "cellphone-itis."

This addiction to cell phones reaches across all socio-economic classes, ages 15-50, among both males and females. This seemingly uncontrollable behavior has turned people into mini-robots who walk, and drive, oblivious to the world around them as they focus totally on the phone in their hand as if it were a crystal ball. It's as if they have an insatiable need to hear a voice, or to send and receive a text message minute by minute.

People with cellphone-itis can be seen everywhere. They are loud, rude, and obnoxious as they pace in circles like a caged animal, phone to their ear, totally engrossed in animated conversation. You see and hear them in supermarkets, at the mall, the post office, pumping gas, driving through red lights, walking across streets without looking, in rest rooms, at sporting events, and in restaurants where it is not uncommon to see couples who never talk to each other - instead each is on a phone. This addiction is even becoming a major issue in our school classrooms.

I met a young woman recently who had to turn her cellphone in because her addiction was costing $700 a month and she could not afford it. That's a lot of chit-chat money. As some states begin to enact laws making cell phone use while driving illegal, I question who would enforce such a law when most police officers you see patrolling in their cruisers are talking on their cell phones. You even see cops on those paid construction details we hear so much about, with phone in one hand, coffee cup in the other.

The comedy of this situation would make for a great standup routine if it were not outweighed by the insanity and seriousness of this addictive behavior which is taking control of people's lives. Let me point out that I take this position not as some neanderthal man, living in a cave, writing messages on a stone tablet. In fact I'm writing this on my PC, and I do own a cell phone; however, the cell phone does not own me. In my judgement, the cell phone is a valuable tool, if and when it is used properly. Common sense, however, must prevail and unfortunately it is obvious that the situation is totally out of control. If we do not address this problem, the rate of accidents and deaths related to this addiction will only increase.

Perhaps more business establishments should emulate the action taken by the MBTA to ban all cell phone use on the job. Certainly that action alone would not remove cellphone-itis from society, but it would be a first step in the right direction.

CHARLES W. SMITH lives in Plainville.