Jump to content

Internet Addiction Center Opens In U.S.


Lite

Recommended Posts

  • Administrator

Was gonna post this in the news forum, but its a week old.... so i'm posting here

Ben Alexander spent nearly every waking minute playing the video game "World of Warcraft." As a result, he flunked out of the University of Iowa.

Alexander, 19, needed help to break an addiction he calls as destructive as alcohol or drugs. He found it in this suburb of high-tech Seattle, where what claims to be the first residential treatment center for Internet addiction in the United States just opened its doors.

The center, called ReSTART, is somewhat ironically located near Redmond, headquarters of Microsoft and a world center of the computer industry. It opened in July and for $14,000 offers a 45-day program intended to help people wean themselves from pathological computer use, which can include obsessive use of video games, texting, Facebook, eBay, Twitter and any other time-killers brought courtesy of technology.

"We've been doing this for years on an outpatient basis," said Hilarie Cash, a therapist and executive director of the center. "Up until now, we had no place to send them."

Internet addiction is not recognized as a separate disorder by the American Psychiatric Association, and treatment is not generally covered by insurance. But there are many such treatment centers in China, South Korea and Taiwan — where Internet addiction is taken very seriously — and many psychiatric experts say it is clear that Internet addiction is real and harmful.

The five-acre center in Fall City, about 30 miles east of Seattle, can handle up to six patients at a time. Alexander is so far the only patient of the program, which uses a cold turkey approach. He spends his days in counseling and psychotherapy sessions, doing household chores, working on the grounds, going on outings, exercising and baking a mean batch of ginger cookies.

Whether such programs work in the long run remains to be seen. For one thing, the Internet is so pervasive that it can be nearly impossible to resist, akin to placing an alcoholic in a bar, Cash said.

The effects of addiction are no joke. They range from loss of a job or marriage to car accidents for those who can't stop texting while driving. Some people have died after playing video games for days without a break, generally stemming from a blood clot associated with being sedentary.

view.gif View: Original Article

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Replies 18
  • Views 1.7k
  • Created
  • Last Reply
  • Administrator

Now this is what I was lookin from years. It should also start in my country. :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Administrator

No. I need it more. I want it open first here. Otherwise I may :frusty: .

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I have an idea!:smartass: Let's have e-learning classes to help you guys with your internet addiction problems.:smartass:

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Administrator

I have an idea!:smartass: Let's have e-learning classes to help you guys with your internet addiction problems.:smartass:

I'm in. When you are gonna start it? B)

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Administrator

The day after you spend 20 hours on the internet. Classes last 1500 hours/ 15 hours a day. Internet connection required :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Myself- half addicted, though I know people whose life's are collapsing due to addiction to one or the other aspect of IT/Internet/gaming... ban couldn't help such!

:sad:

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Administrator

@Lite: Let me remind you, on internet I don't pay for anythin. :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Administrator

Yea they pay for that. ;) . But I don't pay for anythin on Internet. :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Yea they pay for that. ;) . But I don't pay for anythin on Internet. :P

You don't even make bank transactions? If not, that wouldn't be weird also... I also don't pay for anything on internet :D Except if I need to make bank transactions when needed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Administrator

No. I don't do any bank transfers. Even my parents don't. It's in a way really unsafe to to. Anyways, here banks haven't evolved greatly towards Internet bankin.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...