VR game helps addicts quit smoking

by Kyle Orland { Feb 8th 2007 at 4:17PM }

Game addiction might be a hot topic at the moment, but researchers at the University of Georgia are hoping a specially designed virtual reality game can help people get over a much more prevalent addiction: smoking.

Patients in the study don a ridiculous looking VR headset and are placed in simulations of situations where they might be tempted to smoke, like a party full of other smokers or a tight traffic jam. With the help of a therapist, the smoker gradually learns how to handle these situations without lighting up.

Does it work? One elderly smoker interviewed for the story had failed to quit with the patch and medications, but after the VR sessions found she could "be in a room with four or five people smoking and I don't light up." We have the opposite problem -- after years of playing Mario, it's hard for us to be in a room full of turtles without feeling the need to jump on their backs over and over.

[Via Game|Life]

Tags: addiction, smoking, therapy, video, virtual reality, VirtualReality, vr

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mr Khan @ Feb 8th 2007 4:38PM

I'd rather have one where you just play for hours and hours, and as soon as you light up in real life, the game detects it, and you get fragged

I hate tobacco companies...

AirIntake @ Feb 8th 2007 5:55PM

I like smoking right now. But when I quit when I have kids it'll be nice to know there's lots of ways to quit.

sjenky @ Feb 8th 2007 7:47PM

I quit smoking through valium :-p Every time I felt the need to smoke, I'd eat something, take one and sleep another 10 hours.. after 4 days it's completely out of your system.. I would advise doing this during the holidays or a long weekend though. heheh.

SuicideNinja @ Feb 8th 2007 9:59PM

I just waited until I got too sick to smoke. When I got better, I just stayed off it. It only took 9 years to quit! Grr...

fanan89 @ Feb 9th 2007 12:39AM

It's nice to know there's another way for people to quit smoking.
The all industry stink.
Great ending.I found myself actually laughing.

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