Treatment Centers Opening for Internet Addiction

One of the biggest difficulties with recognizing social media addiction is accepting the fact that it is, truly, an addiction. However, in Pennsylvania, several doctors have recognized the severity of Internet addiction and consequently, opened up an inpatient treatment program to help patients who are addicted to the Internet. 

This treatment program is voluntary and lasts for ten days. Currently, the program focuses on treating people who are severely addicted to the Internet, rather than individuals who are simply too dependent on it. The ideal patient for the program is someone whose addiction to the Internet is ruining his or her life and lacks the ability to control their Internet use. For example, Kevin Roberts, one of the patients in the program, spent eight to twelve hours each day on the Internet before he went to treatment.

The program is very specific and structured. At any given time, four individuals undergo treatment together for the same amount of time. They use a group-based therapy approach and work in a hospital wing where people addicted to other substances also undergo therapy. Treatment begins with a "digital detox," where patients are not allowed to use any computer technology for 72 hours. During this detox, patients typically go through withdrawals and are testy, depressed, or violent.

Unfortunately, this treatment is very expensive and typically costs around $14,000. Insurance companies do not cover this treatment, which is a huge problem for people struggling with social media or Internet addiction. Hopefully, in the future, social media addiction will become more widely recognized so that more treatment centers can open up and social media addicts can get the help they need.


To learn more about this treatment center, feel free to check out:

DeMarche, Edmand. "Pennsylvania Hospital to Open Country's First Inpatient Treatment Program for Internet Addiction." Fox News. FOX News Network, 01 Sept. 2013. Web. 14 Oct. 2013. <http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/09/01/hospital-first-inpatient-treatment-internet-addiction/>.