BY: MELISSA BOODOO
Young men line up in rows beside barrack-style bunkbeds wearing camo uniforms. But this isn’t some sort of military boot camp, it’s a rehab centre for Chinese addicts of “digital heroin.” It is believed that 24 million young people are addicted to the Internet and video games. Chinese officials fear that the rise of technology is corrupting the minds of its youth. So facilities have been taken to prevent what they believe is a brewing epidemic. Their methods, though allegedly effective are questionable, and Mother Jones reports that deaths have occurred at similar centres.
A group of young men making their way outside for their daily exercise and drills.
Photo by: Fernando Moleres
The centre offers military-style workouts for patients.
Photo by: Fernando Moleres
Regular meals are offered at the centre.
Photo By: Fernando Moleres
Bunkbeds are provided for patients. They are encouraged to participate in group activities and play card games to help build their socialization skills to minimize screen time.
The camp is supervised by former army colonel, Tao Ran to help young people with this disorder. Tao and his team’s treatment of brain scans and medication have a 75 percent success rate.
Photo By: Fernando Moleres
A patient wired up for an electroencephalogram scan to measure his brain activities.
Photo By: Fernando Moleres
Daily medication is distributed.
Photo By: Fernando Moleres
China has roughly 368 million online gamers and it comes to no surprise that Chinese parents, psychiatrists and the public are calling this internet addiction a clinical disorder.
Photo By: Fernando Moleres
Image source: motherjones.com
