Around the world, addiction destroys people’s lives, it slows down economic progress, and
disrupts peaceful societies.
But addiction is not exclusive to drug use, many activities are prone to abuse, and in
the 21st century, some people are literally becoming addicted to technology.
In China, this abuse has become such a societal problem that rehab centers are opening up
for these electronic addicts.
Seeker Stories dove into the problem.
“We can’t control him anymore.
We want him to understand what is happening to him, to heal, and for this nightmare to
be over...”
These are the words of a parent of an addict...but it’s not what you think.
Because they’re not talking about drug or alcohol abuse, they’re talking about a controversial
condition that many believe is affecting more and more people every day.
Some call it ‘Electronic Heroin.’
Others simply know it as: the Internet.
Now, we’re all guilty of spending way too much time online, but for a growing number,
the Internet is more than that, it’s an obsession.
Internet addiction has been nicknamed ‘Electronic Heroin’ because researchers have found that
heavy Internet users suffer changes in brain functionality similar to those observed in
drug abusers, and further study has shown that the withdrawal symptoms can be similar
too.
In China, bootcamp-style rehab clinics have started to open up to help addicts conquer
their problem.
Tao Ran, a psychiatrist and military colonel who runs the Daxing Boot Camp in Beijing,
has noticed the similarities between his patients and drug addicts first hand.
“It destroys relationships and deteriorates the body without the person knowing.
All of them have eyesight and back problems and suffer from eating disorders.”
When patients arrive at Daxing Boot Camp, it’s rarely of their own accord.
Most have been forced to come here by their parents.
The addicts are put on a diet and exercise regimen, and of course a no-Internet policy
is strictly enforced.
Patients are sometimes given medication and their brain activity is also closely monitored
to measure the progress in functionality.
The boot camp treatment may be on the extreme side, but many parents in China still see
it as the best option for reforming their children.
The country has some 24 million “web junkies,” and many of them are kids who spend their
days in Internet cafes specially kitted out with armchairs and beds so users never have
to leave.
Parents believe the military-style drills mixed with family therapy sessions at boot
camps like Daxing can help their kids transform their lives.
While more and more boot camps are opening around the country to meet the demand, not
all are set up like Daxing.
Recent reports have shed light on the physical abuse of patients in some centers, and others
have even resorted to using electroshock therapy to treat addicts.
Although these reports are concerning, some argue that it’s proof that standardized
treatment and care needs to be developed to tackle the growing problem.
Though that might be a long way off, as Internet addiction still isn’t fully recognized by
many clinicians and psychiatric organizations.
For the patients at Daxing on the road to recovery, the addiction feels very real and
the fear of re-entering a world with the Internet can be daunting.
As one boy who extended his stay said, “I am afraid to go back to a normal life...I
fear I will become addicted again.
That is why I have asked to stay longer, until I develop enough confidence to deal with life.”
If you want to see more in-depth content like this, check out Seeker Stories.
They’ll take you around the world sharing stories of extraordinary people, cultures
and innovations.
Like this one that explores why nearly half the people on Earth risk their lives every
time they cook.
Watch this episode to learn how engineers at UC Berkeley plan to combat this problem
by redesigning the cook stove.
As Juanete was cooking, I could hear her coughing and her grandchildren coughing around her.
And as she explained, she has no other choice, but to cook this way even though she knows
that it could cause harmful long-term health issues.
What's incredible is that smoke inhalation kills more people worldwide than HIV and malaria
combined.
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