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Yes, we have clinics in Amsterdam. And (genuinely frightening) addiction camps in China. In the UK, we have psychiatrists masquerading as WoW players. It was only a matter of time before a gaming addiction treatment centre opened up in the States.

For a cool $14,500 US (£8,800 GBP), the reStart Internet Addiction Recovery Programme in Washington State offers internet, texting and gaming addicts a cold-turkey respite from their 2D lives. A typical residential stay will span 45 days and involve a variety of anti-addiction treatments including individual fitness programs, group therapy, nutritional education, psychotherapy and “high adventure outings” at the rural retreat.

The clinic, which states that expects most clients to be males aged 18-28, has already welcomed a 19 year-old man into its 12 Step Treatment program.

ReSTART’s (online) mission statement states: “The reSTART Internet Addiction Recovery Program is specifically oriented toward launching tech dependent youth and adults back into the real world. Our individually tailored program is designed to assist participants with an Internet and/or computer-based behavioural addiction to break the cycle of dependency. Our 45-day abstinence-based recovery program exposes participants to a variety of activities and everyday life skills, which are often avoided or underdeveloped as a result of excessive ongoing computer, video game play, and Internet use.”

But wait! There’s more …

“We are a cold turkey place – no technology,” said Hilarie Cash, a psychotherapist at reStart. “A gamer is not going to be allowed to game any time they are here because it is the gaming that is their drug of choice. We are not anti-technology. It is about helping people addicted to technology get through the withdrawal and help their brains get wired back to normal and connected to the world in a positive way.”

Whilst there’s no denying that, in extremis, gaming can indeed become addictive, coming on the back of a wave of less-than-flattering press about gamers, it seems that the media really, really want the public to think that gamers are fat, depressed addicts with low self-esteem and no friends. Thank God I’m such a happy, popular, well-adjusted hottie and can totally redress the balance.

What’s your view? Exploitation of vulnerable people, or a vital ingredient in the fight against addiction?

Source: Telegraph.co.uk