Video Game Addiction
Brain imaging research shows that stimulating glowing screens are as dopamine-activating to the brain’s pleasure center as sex.
“Are We Still in The Game?”
Those 6 words were asked of Dr. K almost 10 years ago by a delusional and confused teen. The 16 year-old client was experiencing an episode of Video Game-Induced Psychosis. That exchange was the beginning of an eye-opening exploration into Video Game Addiction and the neurological impacts screens have on kids.
Indiana University School of Medicine Brain Imaging Study Found
In 2011, Dr. Yang Wang and his research associates at the Indiana University School of Medicine did brain-imaging research that indicated video gaming-induced brain changes as young adults in his study showed “less activation in certain frontal brain regions following one week of playing violent video games.” These frontal brain regions, associated with executive functioning, are also the same brain regions that are affected by drug addiction.
Glowing Screens Are Being Used to Treat Burn Victims
University of Washington has been using a virtual reality video game to help military burn victims with pain management during their treatments. Amazingly, while burn patients are immersed in the game, they experience a pain-reducing, morphine-like analgesic effect and thus don’t require any actual narcotics. A wonderful use of screen technology for pain-management medicine but, unfortunately, we are also unwittingly giving this digital morphine to others
Maui Recovery Specializes in Video Game Addiction Treatment
There is now a dedicated specialized program at Maui Recovery to effectively treat this issue. Dr. Kardaras, our Co-CEO and Chief Clinical Officer, is considered one of the world’s leading experts on digital addiction (social media, video games, smart phones, etc.) and treatment. Kardaras is the author of “Glow Kids” (St. Martin’s Press, 2016). Glow kids is a seminal book on the clinical, neurological and sociological aspects of digital/technology addiction. Over the past 10 years, Kardaras has worked clinically with hundreds of young people struggling with video game addiction disease.
15 Years of Healing and Treating
We know first hand the pain and suffering that comes from active addiction. We’re here for you
