Detox Clinic Opening for Video Addicts

[RealGanjaMan]

Detox Clinic Opening for Video Game Addicts

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands

An addiction center is opening Europe's first detox clinic for game addicts, offering in-house treatment for people who can't leave their joysticks alone.

Video games may look innocent, but they can be as addictive as gambling or drugs _ and just as hard to kick, says Keith Bakker, director of Amsterdam-based Smith & Jones Addiction Consultants.

Bakker already has treated 20 video game addicts, aged 13 to 30, since January. Some show withdrawal symptoms, such as shaking and sweating, when they look at a computer.

His detox program begins in July. It will run four to eight weeks, including discussions with therapists and efforts to build patients' interests in alternative activities.

"We have kids who don't know how to communicate with people face-to- face because they've spent the last three years talking to somebody in Korea through a computer," Bakker said. "Their social network has completely disappeared."

It can start with a Game Boy, perhaps given by parents hoping to keep their children occupied but away from the television. From there it can progress to multilevel games that aren't made to be won.

Bakker said he has seen signs of addiction in children as young as 8.

Hyke van der Heijden, 28, a graduate of the Amsterdam program, started playing video games 20 years ago. By the time he was in college he was gaming about 14 hours a day and using drugs to play longer.

"For me, one joint would never be enough, or five minutes of gaming would never be enough," he said. "I would just keep going until I crashed out."

Van der Heijden first went to Smith & Jones for drug addiction in October 2005, but realized the gaming was the real problem. Since undergoing treatment, he has distanced himself from his smoking and gaming friends. He says he has been drug- and game-free for eight months.

Like other addicts, Bakker said, gamers are often trying to escape personal problems. When they play, their brains produce endorphins, giving them a high similar to that experienced by gamblers or drug addicts. Gamers' responses to questions even mirror those of alcoholics and gamblers when asked about use.

"Many of these kids believe that when they sit down, they're going to play two games and then do their homework," he said.

However, unlike other addicts, most gamers received their first game from their parents. "Because it's so new, parents don't see that this is something that can be dangerous," Bakker said.

Tim, a gamer who is currently under treatment, agreed to discuss his addiction on condition of his last name not being used. He said he began playing video games three years ago at age 18. Soon he wouldn't leave his room for dinner. Later, he began taking drugs to stay awake and play longer. Finally he sought help and picked up other hobbies to occupy his time.

Symptoms of addiction are easy to spot, Bakker says. Parents should take notice if a child neglects usual activities, spends several hours at a time with the computer and has no social life.

Bakker said parents of game addicts frequently echo the words of partners of cocaine addicts: "'I knew something was wrong, but I didn't know what it was.'"

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Wow, I didn't know anyone went through withdrawls from video games. And shaking and sweating? Wow thats pretty bad


Just thought this was kind of funny/interesting so I posted it



-RGM

[hh339]

Hahaha! I wonder what pills they were given for the anxiety and withdrawal. Benzos? These "addicts", I would like to know if they considered themselves addicts in need of professional help. Could it not just be that they REALLY enjoyed playing video games? This is weird. It would be interesting to read an interview with one of these video junkies. lol

[Jimmeh]

I think the real danger of addiction lies in online games. It's a different experience every time and there's a real thrill factor in competing with others(just like any sport really). The fact that it's so easy to access and there's always someone else online and up for a game no matter what time it is means that it's easy to play them too much. And we all know that excessive video game playing is bad for you(Just like excessive TV watching).

[Sky Walker]

Ha what funny shit. These crazies and their psychological "addiction" theories. I agree hh339, they just really enjoy playing computer games, people like to experience pleasurable activities, just, some people prefer gaming to real life activities. It seem these traits are more on the obsessive side than the addictive side.

Gotta love this bit though;
By the time he was in college he was gaming about 14 hours a day and using drugs to play longer.

Ha, unreal.

[jesusfreak666er]

swim is an avid gamer, but swim feels "gamer addiction" is nothing compared to drug addicitions... nothing, swim has gone through phases where he would get blazed and play counter strike for almost a whole day but thats not the same as sucking dick for crack, you ever suck dick for madden? (btw swim has done neither,Swim cant stress that enough)

[Alfa]

Do they treat forum addicts as well? lol.

[Sushi]

Haha. Lol.
Hmm. Don't SWIY think such comments are a bit insensitive?
They just remind Alf of those guys saying "What a load of crap, what is CANNABIS addiction, lol? SWIM is addicted to heroin and this is some serious shit, painful and stuff, and what you are talking bout is JUST some PSYCHOLOGICAL addiction".
Or if someone says "drugs are dangerous because they are addictive", the usual response is "don't sell us this cheap bullshite, just about ANYTHING can be addcitive".
Now you really got addiction to "something else" and SWIY just lol it out. What about gambling then? Do SWIY lol it out too? Sure, video games are neither heroin, nor gambling. But do SWIY really think addiction to gaming (or computer in general) is not destructive and debilitating? Or do SWIY think it is easy to quit?