First U.S. Internet and Gaming Addiction Center Opens

[Andy Chalk]

First U.S. Internet and Gaming Addiction Center Opens

The first "internet addiction center" in the U.S. has been opened, promising to treat people with World of Warcraft [http://www.worldofwarcraft.com] or text messaging hangups for just under $15,000 a head.

The reStart Internet Addiction Recovery Program [http://www.netaddictionrecovery.com/] offers a 45-day treatment program "designed specifically to help internet and video game addicts overcome their dependence on gaming, gambling, chatting, texting and other aspects of internet addiction." The center claims that 6-10 percent of internet users are "dependent on one or more aspects of cyber-technology," but adds that rates of addiction among MMOG players appear to run much higher.

The site was founded by Dr. Hilarie Cash, author of Video Games & Your Kids: How Parents Stay in Control [http://www.amazon.com/Video-Games-Your-Kids-Parents/dp/1930461054/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250865095&sr=8-1], and Cosette Dawna Rae, a psychotherapist, stress management therapist and personal life coach, in part as a result of the slowness of the United States to recognize the dangers of internet addiction. By contrast, the center notes that both China and South Korea have designated internet addiction as their "number one public health danger."

Patients at the reStart program will be given "individual and group therapy, life-skills coaching, cooperative living, physical and nutritional education, mindfulness training, work and home-maintenance skill-building, 12-step meetings, and weekly, off-site, high-adventure expeditions." The treatment program costs $14,500 per person, and isn't currently covered by any insurance company.

I would strongly urge you to give it a very close look before you open your checkbook, however. For an expensive and professional treatment program, reStart has a rather amateurish feel to it. For one thing, the website's header promises "Treatment for Internet, Gaming, Texting and Video Game Abuse," which while perhaps only a minor editing oversight (unless I somehow missed a recent outbreak of virulent tabletop action) still isn't the sort of thing you want to see from a business that's going to relieve you of nearly 15 large.

There's also the "evidence" provided by the site to support its position, which includes clips from cable news broadcasts and brief documentary-style videos spouting random-sounding statistics (one claims that "up to 40 percent of North America's ten million gamers are addicted") alongside less scientifically sound data including a "You Know You Are Addicted to $26,000 bill [http://www.runescape.com/] while trying to set the world record for text messaging.

Call me crazy if you will - I do spend a lot of time playing videogames, after all - but if I'm going to drop that kind of money on what they purport to be a real problem, I expect more.

via: GamePolitics [http://gamepolitics.com/2009/08/21/first-us-internet-addiction-center-opens]


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[AkJay]

$15,000 a person? What a bargain!

 

[Jumplion]

I say it couldn't hurt. Anything can become addicting and most addictions should be treated similarly, with support from others and gradually decreasing consumption or whatever. If you think you're addicted to the internet or video games or something, then by all means go to this camp and hope for the best, it's just as legitimate as a smoker, alcoholic, or crack user (albiet, I wouldn't think as serious).

Though, hopefully this came will be China's camps [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/93639-Chinese-Teen-Beaten-to-Death-at-Internet-Addiction-Camp]...

 

[LaBambaMan]

Wow. We've really fallen as not only a society, but as a species, when we're spending money to help people with an "addiction" to video games. There's much worse things people get hooked on, like say drugs and Miley Cyrus, and we're worried about a bunch of socially repressed neckbeards sitting in their basements not bothering the rest of the world?

This is what we're pumping the little bit of money we have left into? We should be spending money to get Dante Stallworth thrown in jail for the rest of his life with a note on his cell wall that says "Just because you play in the NFL, doesn't mean to get to kill someone and fucking get away with it".

If someone wants to waste their lives away in their mom's basement playing Halo then let them, they aren't hurting the rest of the world. Hell, they're feeding the economy by paying $60+ for this shit every time it comes out.

Fucking hell our society has gone all looney.

 

[Simalacrum]

Well, I do understand that videogame addiction is a big problem (I myself do believe I suffer from it... currently taking the opportunity of my PS3 dying to try and get over it), but the amount of money their asking for does seem quite ridiculous... I have spent a lot of money on gaming before, but not $15,000... If other gamers are like me, then they couldn't hope to afford something like this!

 

[Subzerowings]

So you have to pay money for people to tell you how to live? If it wasen't for them making this out to be the "number one public health danger", it would have to declare bankruptcy in a few months. I'm addicted because I get bored without my pc or consoles. So what? I like it that way and I'm as healthy as everybody else.

 

[GamerLuck]

Internet Addiction is such a crock. Why anyone would pay $15,000 bucks to get the same effect as their cat chewing out their power cord, Ill never be able to understand.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Maybe it's just me, but 15 big ones could do a lot better than just kicking someone up the ass and saying "Get the hell off the computer, dweeb!"

Which, incidentally, is the same way I used to kick my smoking habit; which is far more addictive.

 

[Jumplion]

Wow. We've really fallen as not only a society, but as a species, when we're spending money to help people with an "addiction" to video games. There's much worse things people get hooked on, like say drugs and Miley Cyrus, and we're worried about a bunch of socially repressed neckbeards sitting in their basements not bothering the rest of the world?

This is what we're pumping the little bit of money we have left into? We should be spending money to get Dante Stallworth thrown in jail for the rest of his life with a note on his cell wall that says "Just because you play in the NFL, doesn't mean to get to kill someone and fucking get away with it".

If someone wants to waste their lives away in their mom's basement playing Halo then let them, they aren't hurting the rest of the world. Hell, they're feeding the economy by paying $60+ for this shit every time it comes out.

Fucking hell our society has gone all looney.

You know, all of that could be applied to, well, drugs. "Seriously? There are much worse things to get addicted to than marijuana, like Miley Cyrus or snack cakes. If someone wants to waste their lives away in their mom's basement smoking a joint then let them, they aren't hurting the rest of the world."

EDIT: To clarify, I'm not bashing Marijuana (though I find it hilarious how I have to ), I just chose a random illegal drug to be used in the post. I don't care if Marijuana is legalized in the States, it was just an example.

While this "camp" is probably just some stupid cash in, I'm not denying that possibility, an addiction is an addiction regardless of the source. Most likely this "camp" is just useless, but, hey, there's money to be had, eh?

 

[LaBambaMan]

Wow. We've really fallen as not only a society, but as a species, when we're spending money to help people with an "addiction" to video games. There's much worse things people get hooked on, like say drugs and Miley Cyrus, and we're worried about a bunch of socially repressed neckbeards sitting in their basements not bothering the rest of the world?

This is what we're pumping the little bit of money we have left into? We should be spending money to get Dante Stallworth thrown in jail for the rest of his life with a note on his cell wall that says "Just because you play in the NFL, doesn't mean to get to kill someone and fucking get away with it".

If someone wants to waste their lives away in their mom's basement playing Halo then let them, they aren't hurting the rest of the world. Hell, they're feeding the economy by paying $60+ for this shit every time it comes out.

Fucking hell our society has gone all looney.

You know, all of that could be applied to, well, drugs. "Seriously? There are much worse things to get addicted to than marijuana, like Miley Cyrus or snack cakes. If someone wants to waste their lives away in their mom's basement smoking a joint then let them, they aren't hurting the rest of the world."

While this "camp" is probably just some stupid cash in, I'm not denying that possibility, an addiction is an addiction regardless of the source. Most likely this "camp" is just useless, but, hey, there's money to be had, eh?

But people sitting in their house smoking pot or snorting coke off their table are doing something illegal, which is different. This is someone making a big deal about a lonely neckbeard with a homoerotic love for Master Chief.

 

[Lord S. Binkleheimer]

15 grand to cure someone of their internet addiction?

I can do it for much cheaper.


Internet Junkie, meet Mr. Bat and Ms. Tazer.
Mr. Bat and Ms. Taser, meet Internet Junkie.
Junkie, Bat. Junkie, Tazer. Bat, Junkie. Tazer, Junkie.
Now...let's get to work.

 

[Jumplion]

But people sitting in their house smoking pot or snorting coke off their table are doing something illegal, which is different. This is someone making a big deal about a lonely neckbeard with a homoerotic love for Master Chief.

Eh, either way I see no problem in trying to cure another addiction, though it is greatly overpriced and exaggerated.

 

[DC1]

I have the cure to video game addiction! Tobacco!

 

[El Poncho]

Eh so wow costs around £120 a year. Some people with the addiction probably don't have a job and have hardly any money. This is more for rich parents to force there kids to go there because they are playing a game for a few hours a day.

 

[Sevre]

Pfft, I can get a better holiday for 15 grand.

 

[Xaositect]

Haha, not surprising since there is a sucker born every minute, and Id bet my left arse cheek someone will soon be right on time.

 

[Jumplion]

get addicted to... marijuana

It isn't addictive. First hand experience. Nearly every weekend.

And thus, my point is further proved (just think about it). Any crack-head would say "crack isn't addictive, I've used it, so it doesn't harm society, so these 'addiction camps' are useless!" ect........a lot of addicts deny there being a problem in the first place.

BUT, I don't want to make this a discussion about drugs and stuff, I was speaking in general terms of what's "addictive" and whatnot. I was just thinking of an illegal drug, and that's about it. I do know that some studies say that Marijuana isn't addictive, ect....I wasn't specifying any real drug.