Video Game Addicts Find Treatment Overseas

The first treatment facility for video game addiction is now available, but addicts will have to go all the way to the Netherlands.

Smith & Jones Addiction Consultancy, based in Amsterdam, began offering treatment for video game addicts after working with adolescents who have obsessive-compulsive disorders. The in-patient treatment includes breaking through denial of a problem and exposing patients to group activities where they are forced to interact with other people.

Keith Bakker, Director at Smith & Jones, saw a need for video game rehab, but was surprised to find such treatment is not offered in the United States. "I was looking for a place I could refer our kids to in the U.S. and was shocked to find absolutely nothing," Bakker said.

It is less of a surprise for David Walsh, President of the National Institute on Media and Family. "In the United States, a lot of people have a difficult time believing you can actually get addicted to video games," said Walsh. "We need to get more people talking about it and seeing that this is a real problem."

Walsh also said it is only a matter of time before video game rehab facilities start showing up in the U.S. "I think we’ll start seeing them as soon as we get light bulbs going on that video game addiction is a real addiction."

In the meantime, video gamers in the U.S. looking for help don’t need to worry.  Americans are welcome at the Amsterdam rehab facility.