First Internet addiction treatment center opens in Washington state

Two women have begun a small treatment program for Internet addiction near Fall City, Wash., called the reStart: Internet Addiction Recovery Program.

The two -- Cosette Rae, a clinical social worker, and author Hilarie Cash -- believe their center is a first in the U.S. They started it after treating a large number of people dependent on gaming, gambling, chatting, texting and other Internet-related activities.

The 45-day treatment program at the five-acre Heavensfield costs $322 per day.

Discussions of Internet addiction usually range from the amused (�so, who isn�t?�) to the dismissive (�just go outside and play�) and the entire concept is controversial.

Commentary on addiction or excessive use of new substances or activities has been around for a long, long time. One of Nuremberg artist Albrecht Durer�s most profound prints is his �Melancholia,� which shows a pretty depressed looking angel surrounded by intellectual apparatus and tools of the day (1514). And Hogarth�s social commentary on the drinking habits of his fellow Englishmen in his �Beer Street� and �Gin Lane� prints is a condemnation of the gin, a newly-available intoxicant in 1751. So, even those hundreds of years ago, people were trying to figure out �how much of this is really healthy?�

Today, the answer for malware writers is pretty simple: �you need to do a lot less coding and play a lot more World of Warcraft!� And when you need a break, fly over to Heavensfield. (�Resurrection in 45 days!�)

Story here.