Amsterdam is opening Europe’s first detox clinic for the treatment of video game addiction on the premise that video games can be as addictive as gambling or drugs.
Keith Bakker, director of Smith and Jones Addiction Consultants and the man spearheading the detox clinic, has already treated 20 addicts between the ages of 13 and 30. Apparently, some of the patients suffered withdrawal symptoms like shaking and sweating when in the vicinity of a computer.
CNN writes: “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.”
Gameboy, the PSP, and the DS – harmless portable gaming devices or gateway drugs? You be the judge.
See Nerd Approved articles: On-Line Gamer Dies of Exhaustion and Support: Girlfriends Against Video Games
