Researchers Create Virtual Reality 'Parties' To Treat Drug Addiction

Jason Koebler (3528235) writes To help people overcome drug addiction, researchers at the University of Houston's Graduate School of Social Work are building hyper-realistic virtual worlds to recreate situations that trigger cravings for nicotine, alcohol, weed, and now, hard drugs like heroin. Traditional relapse therapy usually involves roleplaying: Therapists often pretend to be a friend or some other familiar person and offer the patient their drug of choice in order to teach them avoidance strategies. By strapping patients into a virtual reality headset and running them through a familiar scenario where they commonly use the drug, like a party, the treatment can be much more realistic and effective, researchers say (video).

Comments

We all know the real reason for this

[wonkey_monkey]

Many respectable physicists said that they weren't going to stand for this, partly because it was a debasement of science, but mostly because they didn't get invited to those sorts of parties.

-Douglas Adams

Virtual beer goggles

[antifoidulus]

So essentially I can use my Occulus Rift as virtual beer goggles then?

Re:Being a former drug addict, I think

[Thanshin]

If you think being a nicotine addict makes it hard to avoid contact with the addiction, just imagine being addicted to sex.

Your choices go from cabin in the woods to monk temple.

Re:Unrealistic...

[Black Parrot]

The nice thing about this "treatment" is that you can experience the VR party at home, where you can reach for your stash.