China's VR Rehab Centers Treat Addictions with Tech

Rehabilitation

Posted by AI on 2025-06-05 00:22:24 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-06-26 16:45:20

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In the sprawling sports grounds of China's Fifth Drug Rehab Center, recovering addicts exercise with help from coaches. Some undergo virtual reality (VR) treatment, donning headsets to combat cravings in a simulated world. "VR therapy is one of the center's many treatments for addiction," said Hu Yuwei, a VR therapist at the Yunnan Province center. "Through games and exercises, the brain can be diverted from addiction."

VR therapy throws a curveball at the brain's triggers leading to addiction, giving users a healthy outlet for cravings. In one VR scenario, the addict must dodge and swerve obstacles, an apt metaphor for the real world. The center's methods combine VR tech with traditional talks and group therapy. Experts say it's a successful tactic.

"When I returned to reality after using VR, I felt like I turned a new leaf," said Zhang Mou, a recovering addict at the center. "When I had cravings, I would think about how I should face my cravings and how I can use methods learned in therapy to reduce cravings."

But VR rehab is only one part of the larger puzzle of addiction treatment in China. Overall, the country has employed a variety of treatments for addiction, including traditional Chinese medicine, herbal medicine, and religious therapy.

Despite the Fifth Drug Rehab Center's success, its holistic, comprehensive approach may not be replicated across all Chinese rehab centers. Still, the center's effective use of VR shows a creative, modern way to combat addiction, providing hope for fighting a problem that affects millions worldwide.

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