Interview With the Founder of a Video Game Rehab Clinic

Ten Ton Hammer has posted the transcript from an interview with Dr. Hilarie Cash, co-founder of the "reSTART Internet Addiction Recovery Program," a relatively new clinic that deals with adults who feel that they are addicted to video games. The interview contains some.. interesting nuggets of wisdom. If you want to avoid addiction, you'd better spend less than two hours per day on online entertainment! The good news is that she doesn't recommend beating people. "When people come, they come for 45 days. It is only for adults; patients must be 18 or older. When they first come, they come for a minimum 2 days to be interviewed and to interview us, because we don't want anyone there who doesn't want to be there. So if they decide they want to be there then they stay for 45 days or longer if they choose. During that time they don't have access to the internet. The idea is that it takes at least 30 days for the brain to make some adjustments it needs to make to get over this addiction, so the brain can begin to rewire back to normal. During that time we are helping them look at why they got addicted, what motivated their addiction and we're assessing to see what skills they are lacking so they can be successful in their adult lives. We try to make a good start at helping to build those skills."

Comments

45 days? Are you frikkin' kidding me?

[Rogerborg]

I'm pretty sure that demanding 7 weeks off work because you got busted playing World of Warcraft in your cube would be a career limiting move.

Flawed theory?

[holiggan]

From the sumary:

  "(...) we're assessing to see what skills they are lacking so they can be successful in their adult lives (...)"

Does this mean that videogame addiction "sprouts" from the lack of some "skills" needed for "success" in "adult lives"? Is it just me, or are they trying to shoe-horn videogames as something "for kids" again? And if you play too much of them, does it mean automatically that you are "lacking some skills so you can be a successful adult" (i.e. you are a big kid)?

Does a smoking addiction sprouts from "lack of skills needed for success in adult lives" as well? How about achool addiction? What sort of skills might a person be "lacking" to "fall" into a smoking habit?

There is something odd here, but I can't quite put my finger on it...

Re:Flawed theory?

[calmofthestorm]

Skills such as not playing video games so much that YOU feel that you need to stop. Keep in mind if nothing else that the power of a placebo is correlated with the inconvenience you must undergo (time, money, pain, etc) to achieve it. Sugar pills are less effective than shots are less effective than surgery. If nothing else, the cost and time may well help, and perhaps they develop healthy new hobbies while there such as playing tennis, playing D & D (it's not a prison), and LARPing.

Watching TV vs. Playing Video Games

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't know how the rest of you gamers feel, but I am so tired of people complaining about how we play video games for 2 hours in a night, yet it's ok for them to watch TV for 2 hours. The hypocrisy to me is ridiculous. Someone can sit down and watch a 2 hour movie and that's considered normal and common behavior, but heaven forbid we sit down and play a video game for 2 hours! Does anyone else here feel the same way? Sorry, this has been bugging me for a while. :) /end rant ;)

My Contribution to Society...

[flyneye]

I'd like to start a clinic for the rehabilitation of those addicted to spending money. I can help, honestly. They can turn their money over to me and after a week of therapy, I can guarantee they won't have that problem anymore. They just have to want it bad enough and do the program.
        Once this takes off , I can open my other clinic for women addicted to virginity and celibacy . Is there someone you know, maybe a friend, sister, relative or even your wife who doesn't get any sexual satisfaction due to celebate addiction? Send them my way.
        I'll do anything I can to help.