First American Internet Addiction Treatment Center 278
An anonymous reader writes "Taking their lead from China, two Americans have opened the first US-based Internet Addiction treatment center in Fall City, Wash. — ironically close to Redmond (Microsoft's hometown). The center, called reStart: Internet Addiction Recovery Program, is a 45-day treatment center where, for a steep set of fees, people can be cured of their addiction to the Web. After paying the $200 application fee, addicts are charged $14,500 for the 45 days, an additional $800 for a screening, and more for extra services, like kayaking ($1,575)."
reStart? (Score:2, Funny)
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No, reboot comes before restart. Reboot's when you kick yourself in the ass for being stupid, before you actually do something about it.
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No. Rebooting is what heroin addicts do when they relapse. Before recovery they boot their drugs, then they stop until one day when they re-boot ;-) [The term "boot" is slang for the act of injecting drugs, esp. heroin]
How about... (Score:2)
Re:How about... (Score:5, Funny)
Naw, irony would be if they offered classes online.
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That would cure me... (Score:5, Funny)
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Rather than focus on pornography, or even the Internet, I would focus more on addictive behaviors in general. Some people are simply more prone to addiction than other
Re:Internet Addition = Pornography Addition (Score:4, Insightful)
We're all pretty much guessing here, so I will present my best educated guess. IANAPsychologist, I only took Psych classes to get chicks...
First of all, just because someone spends a lot of time doing one thing, that does not make them an addict. To be addicted to something, you have to feel drawn to it against your will, it must be an overwhelming urge. You know the old saying "I can quit any time I want, just not today"... that's addiction! If the very idea of stopping is a stressful thought, it's addiction. If you play WoW 16 hours a day because you enjoy it, and have nothing better to do, it's just a perfectly normal hobby. Have fun and please don't grief me!
If a person is truly addicted to something, drugs/sex/internet/anything, to a degree where it can be considered harmful, chances are the obsessive behaviour is a way to escape some stressful element in their life. Addiction is a symptom, a coping mechanism. You don't treat the symptom, you treat the cause.
A few years ago, one would have said I was addicted to WoW. I played it 16 hours a day, did almost nothing else. I wasn't addicted to a game, I was burnt out from a soulless job, broke and depressed out of my skull; the game was a way to shunt that negativity aside and keep from going batshit insane. It provided the cheap on-demand gratification I needed to stay out of the dumps, and by that definition it was successful. It floated me through a few rough months and gave me time to deal with my issues.
In light of that, I believe these so-called internet addiction camps can only cause more harm. To charge that amount of money, for what equates to six weeks of adult summer camp, is to prey on the weak. It does not address the underlying problem at all. An "internet addict" would be better served by a psychologist/therapist, and for that kind of money you could see your therapist twice weekly for a whole year, which is extreme overkill. You'll probably be cured after a dozen sessions or so, but "cure" isn't the right word, I prefer "empowered", because the change has to come from within. A therapist helps you map out the path, but you have to take that step toward self-respect and self-control.
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And in English?
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Do you know anything at all about 12 step programs ?
Have you studied data on recidivism rates for 12 step program "graduates" ?
Do you think artificial guilt is an effective tool to address deeply-rooted psychological issues ?
Do you actually think people behave the same way at an AA meeting, as they would outside the confines of an authority-based, peer-pressure microcosm ?
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They should have a service like this for religious people. Religious nutcase addicts are far more dangerous than some dude that plays warcraft all day or something.
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Re:Internet Addition = Pornography Addition (Score:4, Funny)
So the program is ideal. Screw $1,500 of kayaking - think $15,000 of "exotic roleplaying." Man, this spa thing could be a winner - 45 days at a hotel-like spa with outside activities? Set it up right and Blue Cross will even pay for it.
I am so there! Sorry, boss, I need 45 days off to cure my internet addiction - I'll be kayaking, deep-sea fishing, and TFing hookers. No prob, I hate to do it, but it's the only way to reconnect with reality. Oh, and you are paying, don't make me invoke the "Americans with disabilities" law.
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Hey Stalin, ever heard of the first amendment?
Re:Internet Addition = Pornography Addition (Score:4, Interesting)
I don't mind religious people. I know a few people who are devout Christians. I also know a few people who're really into Islam. The funny thing is that they get along pretty well. And why not? I mean, both believe in one god with probably slightly different hairdo (we'll never know, after all neither may draw pictures of him) and they call him by different names.
They're no problem. Enjoy and live and do whatever your favorite pastime may be. Mine is hacking virtual beings, yours is worshipping one, no harm in either. I also don't mind if you run around telling everyone how cool your imaginary friend is.
It stops being cool when people go around beating up people or worse in the name of their imaginary friend, because they claim he doesn't like what they're doing. It's kinda odd to see laws being passed based on the ideas of your imaginary friend. I mean, just because Harvey here thinks it's cool to force everyone to eat carrots on Sundays, I can't go around cramming orange vegetables down everyone's throat and, when (rightfully) arrested, claim it was Harvey's idea and thus should be law.
Freedom of speech, fine. Freedom to force your views onto me to limit mine, not fine.
He didn't talk about religious people. They're ok. If that's what you need to enjoy your life, more power to you. Enjoy it. He was talking about religious nutjobs. Which is, at least by my standards, anyone who deems it right to force the behaviour which is "right" according to his religion on other who couldn't care less what some God or Goddess or Spirit or whatever wants.
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Seumas said: They should have a service like this for religious people. So, in his world, if you're a religious person (any kind - he didn't add any qualifiers), you get put in a "treatment center". That sure sounds like prohibiting free exercise to me.
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"A service like this for religious people" would be a private clinic offering big-bucks treatment to cure "religion addiction." Nobody (AFAIK) is getting forced into the treatment being discussed in TFA, so by extension, they wouldn't be forced into the religion treatment either. Whether such a service would be of any use is arguable, of course, but it wouldn't constitute a government infringement on individual rights.
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If this were a well-recognized disorder, wouldn't it be desireable for the proprietors have well-recognized and relevant credentials for helping with that disorder? The way this spins, it seems that they are focussing on one particular outlet of a dangerous disorder. However, it also seems like amateurs trying to help themselves to money from weak-minded individuals (they'll be professionals at that if they succeed here).
The money would
WoW has wanton use of Weapons. Who's dangerous? (Score:2, Funny)
Porno just teaches one repetive maneuver that doesn't scale into weapons well, unless it's a small stabbing action with a knife. WoW is giant chatroom where everyone gets together and willfully injures another single or group of people. Those 2nd-amendment kids out there all studied their rifle and handguns, were disciplined in the safe and effective usage, and acknowledge the 3 stages of boastfullness so that the would know the origin of violence and how to be peaceful and honoured societies as to not es
Logic 101 Time (Score:2)
Therefore, all addictions to A are addictions to B. Put another way, if someone is addicted to A, then they are addicted to B.
Spot the fallacy, kids!
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If it's only 50%, what's the rest of the internet used for? Porn would have to be the most bandwidth intensive activity per time spent of anything on the internet (except folding perhaps). Files on the order of 1GB get downloaded to be looked at for probably half an hour. Maybe several hours for someone's absolute favorites. The majority will be looked at for a couple minutes and nev
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Pornographic images and video have the largest percentage (although it may not necessarily exceed 50%) of Internet bandwidth.
there are other uses for the internet? ;)
Re:That would cure me... (Score:5, Funny)
You know what they say about a fool and his money...
I'd best Google it, just to be sure...
money (Score:5, Insightful)
it very well sounds like the goal here isn't so much to actually "treat" people so much as to make large sums of money by catering to those of us who have access to lots of cash.
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all businesses in the USA.
Your post is redundant.
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Yeah, and? That's capitalism yo.
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Hell, it'd be cheaper to go on a month long cruise. Although, I hear they have the internet now...
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You could even write a blog about it and *MAKE* money.
And by "write a blog" I, of course, mean type it out on a typewritter and mail it to somebody to have them scan it.
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Concerned Parents would be the target market here, I'm guessing.
And why are they Concerned? Because they read all the marketing literature about the horrible fate awaiting their precious little snowflakes if they spend too much time on WoW.
Re:money (Score:4, Insightful)
I think it needs to be made more clear to the older generation that, no matter how much they don't like it, the fact is that the day is rapidly approaching when the person who doesn't spend *enough* time on the Internet will be the socially dysfunctional one.
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It will be worse than that. We will soon spend a lot of our time "connected" in some way. We already reached the point where we are always, everywhere readily reachable, something that was anything but normal a little over a decade ago. Today you're seen as some sort of weirdo if you don't have a cell and thus can't be reached everywhere, including tub and can.
When I look at some of the kids I'm working with, I see a trend towards an urge to be "omnipresent", at least virtually. They want to be in touch wit
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Those telco companies don't know where to stop (Score:4, Funny)
SWEET! (Score:5, Funny)
Can I sign up online?
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I think that just means you're addicted to pizza!
Brilliant! (Score:5, Funny)
I must give a nod to this highly creative solution to net addiction: charge the victim so much money they can afford neither a computer nor a net connection! The elegance of the solution is awe-inspiring.
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Obviously you are being somewhat facetious... but here is my question: why is it these "clinics" and "addiction help" things never make you do something constructive in your time? Kayaking is fun. Of course it's fun to not be on the internet to kayak. But why not, say ... work on something? Maybe ... chop wood? I don't know, I'm sure one could creatively come up with something productive to do instead of basically paying for a vacation without internet.
Plus, if it was productive, it would subsidize the
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The idea of these kinds of clinics is that people need to "get their highs" from other things in life. It's not just about taking them away from their addiction, its showing them all the stuff they could be doing with their time, showing them the other pieces that life has to offer.
If you put addicts in an area where they have to work, they're just going to get worn down, get angry, and want to resort to their habit to make them feel better.
Lets face it, if I were addicted to the internet, making me chop do
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Website? (Score:2)
So, do they have a website? Myspace page? Twitter page? Facebook page? Youtube channel?
Re:Website? (Score:5, Informative)
Of course. http://www.netaddictionrecovery.com/ [netaddictionrecovery.com]
Don't be silly.
Yep. http://twitter.com/GetYourLifeBack [twitter.com]
Yep. http://www.netaddictionrecovery.com/social-network/facebook.html [netaddictionrecovery.com]
They're probably still working on it...
Re:Website? (Score:5, Funny)
I had for a very extended period of time an addiction to an online game. I was very antisocial and i basically lived to play. Talking to Cosette helped me learn how to look at my addiction from another perspective. She got me to try to stop and i did. Now I am a much happier person and I have made an incredible amount of progress in my life. I have so many more friends, and I find that things come more easily to me, and I find joy in more things. Putting my life into one thing was horrible for me and now I have learned to apply myself, and I have broken my addiction. Thanks alot --Conner
Guide to the perfect testimonial:
Step 1: Use generalized words when talking about time. For example, instead of saying "for two years," use the term "very extended period of time."
Step 2: Mention that you now have a new perspective due to talking with --insert name here--. Don't go into detail about what your perspective is now or what it was then.
Step 3: Instead of detailing what steps you took to stop, just say - "she got me to try to stop and i did."
Step 4: Claim that you are happier
Step 5: Claim you now have bajillions of friends!
Step 6: ?????
Step 7: Profit!
Re:Website? (Score:4, Funny)
I have so many more friends, and I find that things come more easily to me
Obviously, she broke his WoW addiction by getting him addicted to Facebook!
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Yeah, that sounds like the perfect testimonial for almost any kind of product, including pre-lubed condoms.
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I heard they couldn't get the YouTube videos to appear on the top of their MySpace page, because it contained a link to a 4chan wiki.
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Probably the attendants will keep everyone informed about their progress on Twitter, and afterwards blog about their success, and maybe even put some videos on YouTube about how they are no longer internet addicts.
Forgive me if I'm skeptical (Score:5, Informative)
Two friends -- Cosette Rae, a clinical social worker, and author Hilarie Cash
Now, these people could be people devastated by personal loss due to too much World of Warcraft by a loved one... or they could be two people who are fearmongerers desperately trying to leech cash out of rich Microsoft yuppie parents who can't figure out how to pull the plug on their kid's computerboxstation360.
All I'm saying is the article doesn't mention anything about them, and given the lack of PhD or even MD behind the names... I'll say nothing to see here, move along.
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What are you talking about? Where did you get the idea you need a medical Degree to open a clinic?
Re:Forgive me if I'm skeptical (Score:4, Insightful)
I never said that they couldn't open a clinic without a having a medical degree... All I was saying is that I wouldn't trust those people as far as I could throw them to help others with their addictions.
I mean, they didn't even include a quote from the starters with why they do what they do...
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They didn't talk about the qualifications of the people who run this place, only that they are:
Two friends -- Cosette Rae, a clinical social worker, and author Hilarie Cash
Now, these people could be people devastated by personal loss due to too much World of Warcraft by a loved one... or they could be two people who are fearmongerers desperately trying to leech cash out of rich Microsoft yuppie parents who can't figure out how to pull the plug on their kid's computerboxstation360.
All I'm saying is the article doesn't mention anything about them, and given the lack of PhD or even MD behind the names... I'll say nothing to see here, move along.
Are you perhaps referencing that crackpot lady who started a WoW rehab clinic (based loosely on a book she read about 12-step programs) after her clinically-depressed kid who played a lot of WoW tragically took his own life?
If so, it seems that her biggest mistake in doing so wasn't the misdirected rage at her "patients", nor the self-righteous religious mumbo-jumbo, but rather that she didn't charge high enough prices to get people's attention and evoke a sense of legitimacy.
As with many new ventures, it c
Kayaking? (Score:5, Funny)
What a rip off... (Score:3, Interesting)
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Well for one, the summer camp won't beat your kid to death for not running fast enough.
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Even in places like my old job, where the entire chain of command up to director allowed employees to play WoW during downtime (Tier I call center), you still had to stop whenever work happened, which seems enough to prevent "Internet addiction" from setting in...
Sheesh, that's enough to keep WoW from setting in!
"This is great, we've got Illidan down to 35% and no deaths so far! We're gonna win this encounter!"
<lots of phones ringing>
"Damn, where's the pause button!?!"
Odd (Score:5, Insightful)
It's odd how they've conveniently changed the meaning of "addiction". The definition used to be that for something to be addictive, it had to have physical withdrawal symptoms, like alcohol, caffiene, niccotine, heroin, etc. What used to be separately termed "habituation" is now termed "addiction".
However, as I learned when quitting cigarettes, the habituation can be as bad as the addiction. Two years after I stopped, and didn't even WANT a cigarette, I still slapped the shirt pocket that used to hold the cigarettes when I left work. Do anything for thirty years and you'll miss it, even if "it" is being hit on the head with a stick.
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I also think it is odd how low the bar seems to be for categorizing non-destructive actions as "addictive". Using the Internet is not a harmful activity. You can surf the net plenty, and suffer no ill effects in terms of health, family, job, etc. While you certainly can go overboard and start doing it at the exclusion of everything else in your life, well you can do that for ANYTHING in your life. However the activity isn't harmful in and of itself, even in large amounts (unlike, say, drinking alcohol which
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While you certainly can go overboard and start doing it at the exclusion of everything else in your life, well you can do that for ANYTHING in your life.
Your point being? Lots of people do go overboard, some to the extent of actually dying from their disregard of even basic bodily needs. There's programs right now for people who are addicted to sex and probably dozens of other things. Gaming and the internet are no different.
Going online isn't a problem. Spending 18 hours a day online is a problem and that is labeled as addiction.
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The best treatment for this is a behavioural therapy known as CBT.
While I concede that Cock and Ball Torture would indeed dampen my enthusiasm for online gaming I hadn't heard of it being a professional behavioural therapy option.
At least, not that type of professional..
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Maybe it's some sort of reverse Pavlov conditioning. You know, every time you cast a spell, you get your nuts stapled to the chair or something like that.
AVGN Therapy (Score:2)
They should force them to play mind-bendingly awful games, a few days of "Sunday Funday" ought to set them straight. That or the popular "beat you to death" therapy I've heard so much about.
I have my own internet addiction treatment center (Score:5, Funny)
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P.T. Barnum Had it Right (Score:4, Informative)
Sorry, but anyone who pays over $15k to "cure" themselves of addiction to the internet is an idiot. I can cure it for you faster, easier, and cheaper - in fact, you'll MAKE money.
Cancel.
Your.
Internet.
There. I saved you over $15k.
Sorry for the lack of sympathy but there are people out there with real addictions who need help. "Internet addiction" is a complete joke.
And, for anyone who is about to point out people who have an obsessive need to be online, don't confuse OCD behaviour with addiction. The two are different. One may lead to the other but they are not the same. People aren't addicted to the internet. Sorry.
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I doubt anyone's going to be "curing" themselves at this place.
My guess is it will be mostly teenagers whose easily impressed parents have been frightened by the marketing literature.
I think there was a Batman Beyond episode about this place...
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Sorry, but anyone who pays over $15k to "cure" themselves of addiction to the internet is an idiot.
True
Sorry for the lack of sympathy but there are people out there with real addictions who need help.
So you cant afford more sympathy because other people need help? Are you helping those other people or just feling sorry for them?
"Internet addiction" is a complete joke.
And you base that opinion on what exactly? Your graphic design experience?
And, for anyone who is about to point out people who have an obsessive need to be online, don't confuse OCD behaviour with addiction
I really dont get this one. OCD's are addictions by nature. Are you saying it's not addiction because it's not chemical? There are many studies that show chemical changes in the brains reward system while using the internet. Anorexic disorders are treated as addictive behaviors and there is plenty
So... (Score:5, Funny)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBeguUvuDzs [youtube.com]
Internet Addiction (Score:5, Funny)
Obligatory xkcd [xkcd.com]
Author has bad programming skills (Score:2)
From the article:
>Certainly the wrong way to help is to tell someone with a problem to do the 2-Step Program:
>
>Step 1. Turn the computer off and go outside.
>
>Step 2. Repeat Step 1.
If you are already on the outside and the computer is off, how do you repeat step 1 ? This is certainly wrong, but for what reason?
The australian car rental people I met once were much better. I asked them for some hints about driving on the left side, they just said "do that and stay there". It worked.
I can get this for free (Score:2)
just by not paying my Verizon bill.
Why is this tagged with... (Score:2, Funny)
... 'shakawhenthewallsfell' ?
Despite that this is a reference to one of the greatest Next Generation episodes ever, I'm not sure I see the connection.
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"Shaka, when the walls fell" - failure
So, my guess it's just generic Star Trek geek for 'epic fail'
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What? (Score:2)
Why don't we send people who talk on the phone all day to telephone addiction treatment centers?
Oh, right, that would be stupid.
I reserve judgement -- let's see the results. (Score:2)
At the most extreme end of the spectrum --
How much extra... (Score:3)
The articles author is an insensitive clod !!! (Score:2)
No, no, no you insensitive clod ! I'm a recovering Internet addict. I don't click on "reply" anymore, and especially not "Reply All" ...
Right. (Score:2)
Can I get a room with decent wireless?
Seriously, though: if you need 45 days to break your addiction to the web, for quite a bit lower sum you could just go get a tent and hang out in the Boundary Waters for 45 days.
I *guarantee* that you would come back and while you might enjoy reconnecting to the web again, none of the virtual world would seem nearly as important as before you left.
Definition of "addiction" for Americans (Score:5, Funny)
If it works... (Score:2)
What I want to know is, if this facility is successful, how will /. survive?
Addiction is possible in almost any activity (Score:2)
24 years of internet access (Score:2)
You can pay $14,500 for treatment, or pay for 24 years of internet access.
Ironic? (Score:2)
That is not ironic.
Pffft (Score:2)
Taking the lead? (Score:2)
Taking their lead from China, two Americans have opened the first US-based Internet Addiction treatment center in Fall City, Wash.
I wonder how much they charge for a beating that results in death? ;P
We might have some catch-up to do, as it seems china includes that service in their base fee
While there, if you do go Kayaking (Score:2)
Having been there, Fall City probably needs an AA program more than it needs a internet addiction program
if they succeed (Score:2)
I'll open a kayaking addiction center nearby.
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Regular beatings are included.
Beatings that kill you cost an extra $1000.
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We prefer to call them, "Physical Realignment Therapy Sessions".
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pr0n? For that kind of $$$, I'm expecting them to suppress my pr0n addiction w/ hookers and blow.
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More like, getting money out of people's insurance who can afford it, if they have the right spin on things. Just what we need to get health insurance rates to go even higher than they are now...
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Spend roughly $17,000 on a retarded camp for morons. "No FUCKING Thank You"
I would rather take that entire sum go to Vegas and have some real fun and blog and tweet about it the whole 45 days
If you can make $17,000 last 45 days in Vegas you're clearly not having enough fun.