Detox Clinic Opening for Video Addicts
Jun 08 4:12 PM US/Eastern
By FIA CURLEY
Associated Press Writer
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.'"
Well, if you think about it, this is necessary for a lot of people. There were reports of a guy who wore adult dipars and soiled himself because he never wanted to get up from a game of Everquest. He lost his job and most of his friends. Some people's cases are way to serious just to overlook so this could be a good thing to a degree.
There is something wrong with the statement, "For me, one joint would never be enough, or five minutes of gaming would never be enough," Weed relaxes you a makes you more likely to take naps instead of keeping you up 14 hours.
There is something wrong with the statement, "For me, one joint would never be enough, or five minutes of gaming would never be enough," Weed relaxes you a makes you more likely to take naps instead of keeping you up 14 hours.
Perhaps its not a joint of weed...? Or maybe he has no idea what he's talking about. Or maybe I dont know what im talking about
Also considering a few years ago a man died from playing a computer game 72 hours straight (3 days) without water/sleep/food...he died. This is a good idea
3 days is the max a human can go without water, go figure
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.
I never thought people would take drugs to play more.
It's funny how fast people talk on the mics at 4 or 5 in the morning.
Socom 2 and 3 are definetly the most addicted I've ever been to a video game. I mean, I've never put as much time into one game as Socom. i've heard of people killing themselves over Everquest Online which I've never even played. I would think that video game rehabs would've originated in Japan. People in Japan are always playing some sort of HandHeld device or Video game in general.
I admit, I've used Socom to escape my problems some times, but is that such a bad thing ??? Thats what the game is for , in my eyes, to unwind relax and have a good time. Life is all about controlling your Monkeys and keeping your ducks in a row.
Well, gaming is just a way to relax... so is dope... but dope has never pissed me off, unlike gaming has... I have met people on socom that are definately addicted, but not to the extent where they do stupid things.. I think that is just reserved for PC gamers... bunch of fruits
There is something wrong with the statement, "For me, one joint would never be enough, or five minutes of gaming would never be enough," Weed relaxes you a makes you more likely to take naps instead of keeping you up 14 hours.
Yea It would probably be like ritalin or aderal cause I know college students use that stuff to keep them up studying for final exams. Great Article BTW in other news an old clan leader of mine played so much he lost his marriage.. does O.BINLADEN ring a bell anyone lol I know the s3 clan knows him.
Hmm, I am on aderal, maybe that is contributing to my sleep problems. It takes me like 2 hours to fall asleep and it takes 10 minutes of constant blaring music to wake me.
well i gotta admit, some ppl from my clan do play 7-8 hours of socom and start whining when i can't war 3 gb clan wars inna row...i just play one and go do something else. The game addiction clinicabober would be a good for those in dire need of common sense...
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L96 > you
dumbest things on socom: ghille suits, long ranged explosives, proning wh0r3s with sasr/sr-25 in the back of the spawn, and ppl who use skype...got owned by some garbage clan b/c of that bs
I'll say I play socom often and could probably be considered addicted, but it's a habit, not a need.
As for the addiction, can you say World of Warcraft?? My buddy who's COMPLETELY enslaved to this game is crazy. His computer had somehting wrong with it, so for the 3 days it was in the shop he was frantically running around trying to find some activity to do; coming to my place and just sitting around staring blankly, digging up really old models and stuff of his and messing with them after 6 years, renting like 3 movies at once, all to be watched in one night, eating like crazy, going through every other game he has (including socom), getting bored of it in under an hour, and moving on, getting the sudden desire to go for long walks to all sorts of places, phoning up his buddies who also play WoW and discussing the game with them for hours, etc. WoW swelled into a huge blob in his life, and when taken away, it leaves a huge cavity that needs to be filled. I seriously think my friend could use some of this.
L96 > you 
