Gamer Detox

[Mixairian]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/fun.games/06/09/video.game.detox.ap/index.html

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- An addiction center is opening Europe's first detox clinic for video 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 under treatment, agreed to discuss his addiction on condition that 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."'

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

This is my cry for help.

 

[Iceman]

About time for something like this. Games like Final Fantasy leave you like a zombie. I need to book my place when FFXIII comes out.

 

[Corinthian™]

Holly ****

I'm an addict to MUDs

 

[Carter]

The only game I have ever played for more than 3 hours in one sitting is Metal Gear Solid

 

[Leto Atrides]

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Whoops.

But I think they're confusing symptoms with causes. I lot of people play games all the time because they don't have a social life.

 

[jaguarr]

I guess we're going to have to send Malice to Amsterdam.

jag

 

[Corinthian™]

I guess we're going to have to send Malice to Amsterdam.

jag

heheheheup:

 

[jaguarr]

heheheheup:

Your avatar is leaking hearts out of it's cheeks. *hovers dialing finger over 911*

jag

 

[Corinthian™]

Your avatar is leaking hearts out of it's cheeks. *hovers dialing finger over 911*

jag

He's blinking them into existance!

 

[Iceman]

The only game I have ever played for more than 3 hours in one sitting is Metal Gear Solid

I can remember literally playing FFVII and FFVIII non stop for about a week. A couple of hours sleep per night was the only break. Even meals were consumed mid battle.

FF games are not too good for your social life during that week.

 

[jaguarr]

He's blinking them into existance!

Oh, well that makes it entirely different, then. *looks up number for animal control*

jag

 

[AlteredEgo]

that stuff is bull****, im not addicted! i can stop whenever i want!

 

[kainedamo]

I'm sure plenty of people are genuinely addicted to games and need help. Heck, there's been stoires about people actually quitting their jobs and dying because they just wouldn't movie from the computer.

However...

The symptoms of addiction the guy describes, there are perfectly good explanations for those symptons. The most obvious being this - some kids are just socially awkward!! I know I was. I know when I was young I spent hours playing a game, and I still do, though now as an adult I only play games now and then, when I was a kid I played games nearly every day. It didn't mean I was addicted. I just didn't have anything better to do. I didn't have many friends, my area was ****ty, games were a good solution.

Games are a good way to keep kids in doors in ****ty areas and keep them out of trouble.

What the guy in the news article there fails to realise is that some young kids just can't socialise anyway. It's not the games fault, maybe sometimes it is, but I'd say the kid would do something else if he didn't have the game. Like, listen to metal for an unhealthy amount of time.

 

[Hades]

Video games, like drugs are an escape from reality. It's really not suprising at all they're openining a gamer detox center

 

[Batty for Bats!]

He didn't say the games were the problem. He stated the symptoms and signs, along with offering his services. I didn't read anything about him saying: Games are The D-E-V-I-L.

Gaming shwaming. The last time I've feel encaged in a game was last summer whenever a couple of friends and mine had a halo party that lasted for 2 days straight.

 

[The Amazing Lee]

Video games, like drugs are an escape from reality. It's really not suprising at all they're openining a gamer detox center

Same could be said about many forms of entertainment, like films as well.

I watch films and TV to get away from reality.

 

[Hades]

Same could be said about many forms of entertainment, like films as well.

I watch films and TV to get away from reality.

Yes, but video games can be taken to more of an extreme then most other etertainment.

 

[black_dust]

I was addicted to Call of Duty 2 Online, when i refomatted my pc, i didn`t put it back on, 4 months clean (i was kick ass at that game)

 

[Sarge 2.0]

As absurd as it sounds, this could be a good way to help people with addictive personalities who happen to be completely consumed by video games.

The fact that a Video Game Rehab Clinic exists will only fuel Jack Thompson's fire, though.

 

[Mixairian]

I remember I once frightened Dread when I first got Fable.