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ABC News Recently reported on a “virtual reality game… that presents various temptations” the game created by Duke University Professor Zach Rosenthal, allows recovering addicts to make their way through a computer generated world that resembles the world they may encounter when leaving treatment. As Rosenthal puts it “What we’re trying to do is take people into a virtual crack-related neighborhood or crack-related setting and have them experience cravings, just like they would in the real world”. Rosenthal as many other professionals in the addiction field believe, cravings are a learned experience and can be unlearned.
In a nutshell the addict is put into a situation where a strong craving is encountered and once the craving begins to fade the therapist ties the moment of decreased urges in with a tone. As the article describes, “For example, if an addict ends up in a tempting situation, he or she can take out the phone donated by the program, dial a number and hear that tone. The addict remembers the sound learned in the therapy session, and the craving should subside.”
This idea is not new and has been used in other forms for quite some time. Dr. Paul McKenna, a world renowned hypnotist, author and now TV Star on the the Learning Channel TV Show I can Make You Thin, uses similar associative therapy methods to help people curb many addictions, including food, smoking, and drugs.
The power of one’s mind is certainly nothing new to addicts. These therapies are certainly something worth looking into. Learned behaviors drive the disease of addiction and the outcomes of these studies will certainly help save lives.
For more information, go to www.dukescience.org
