A hospital in Pennsylvania has opened a treatment program for Internet addiction disorder, Salon reported.
Bradford Regional Medical Center in Bradford, Pa. began the first ever hospital-based program for Internet addiction on September 1 and is directed by Kimberly Young, a psychiatrist who has been studying the controversial addiction since 1994.
After witnessing a friend's marriage crumble due to her husband's addiction to AOL chat rooms, Young became curious and created the Center for Internet Addiction in 1995.
As Internet usage flourished through the decade following the creation of her center, Young said many people reached out to her about seeking professional help.
"I received calls every week asking if I knew of a clinic or hospital to treat this condition, but there weren't any in the U.S.," she said, and eventually decided to do something about the growing issue.
Compared to other "digital detox" programs across the U.S., Young's program is unique because it offers treatment at a hospital facility and investigates underlying programs that may cause the addiction, as opposed to the detox programs which simply help Internet addicts find coping mechanisms.
The program requires patients to be at least 18 years old and currently has room for four patients for each 10-day long treatment. Young did not share the cost of the treatment but mentioned it is not covered by insurance, making it a cash-only program.
"We've tried to keep our costs down so that makes it really affordable for someone with limited means," she said.
Young says she treats her Internet addicts like any other drug- or alcohol-addicted patient and suggests they share the same problems as a result of their addiction, like losing their job, social life, and relationships and even look sickly.
"It's like if you were to think of a heroin addict," Young said. "They are gaunt and sick almost."
Although Young is certain of Internet addiction, it is not a disease recognized by the medical field. Despite the continuing research on extreme Internet use, John M. Grohol of Mental Health Net remains skeptical.
"If the profession hasn't agreed upon it to the point where it's not in the book yet, how can you go about treating it in an in-patient setting? It's ridiculous," Grohol said. "If you find the right marketing methods, you're going to appeal to people's fears and find patients for your program."
Young said the goal of the program is not to obtain an Internet-free life but instead to find a balance.
