Fitting in rather neatly with our Teen Safe Computing internship story from earlier today, it’s been announced that Capio Nightingale Hospital, in central London, has launched the first addiction service which allows young people to go “cold turkey” from their technology compulsion.

Services need to ''adapt quickly'' to help young people affected by technology addiction.

The Telegraph has an excellent report on the service which will be offered to kids as young as 12. It comes in response to growing concerns “about children’s behaviour with technology which puts their health at risk and has led to police being called to sort out family disputes.”

Interestingly, consultant psychiatrist Dr Richard Graham, who is leading the new addiction treatment, said services need to ”adapt quickly” to help young people affected by technology addiction – who he dubbed ”screenagers” – rather than sticking with the same treatment models used for substance abuse.
Explains The Telegraph, “Children will be forced to go ‘cold turkey’ from their technology use as well as being encouraged to cut out any problem use, such as computer games, and restrict the time spent using their phone or computer. They would also be taught face-to face social skills at a residential unit. It also encourages them to think about their relationship with their phone, computer games or social networking websites like Facebook and teaches them skills to help them to switch off.”
The treatment aims to increase off-screen social activities and improve the person’s confidence in face-to-face situations, the lack of which may have made them more susceptible to technology addiction. Strategies to deal with online problems, like cyber bullying, may also be part of intensive in-patient care, group or individual therapy.

It’s a serious issue certainly and one that may well warrant attention on these shores sooner rather than later as well. Best wait til whichever Minister is charged with taking care of this comes back from EuroDisney or their Lord of the Rings tour to bring it up though.