Oh BROTHER!!! Detox Clinic Opening for Video Addicts

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. 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.
Hyke van der Heijden. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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.
you can be addicted to cocaine. YOU CANNOT BE ADDICTED TO VIDEO GAMES.
MUD's had me up until 3 am every morning. Semester 2.
MUD's had me up until 3 am every morning. Semester 2.