US News & World Report Article Features Aspen Education's Wilderness Therapy Programs

In May 2008, US News & World Report published the article, "Addiction to Video Games a Growing Concern." The author discusses the rising problem of children and teens becoming obsessive video and computer gamers. They quoted one of our experts, Aaron Shaw, a field instructor at Aspen Achievement Academy, one of our JCAHO-accredited wilderness therapy programs:

In this country, some families are turning to wilderness therapy. The Aspen Education Group, a California-based organization that treats underachievers from around the country, provides young people ages 11 to 18 with a back-to-nature approach to ending their gaming obsessions. "At home when they have frustrations, they go to their video games," says therapist Aaron Shaw. "Here they have cold weather, hiking." By being away from their screens for seven to nine weeks, he says, "they learn some healthier coping mechanisms." Shaw first tries to discover kids' reasons for playing; often, he finds, it's to find freedom and fun and out of a need for greater acceptance from their parents. (If Mom is always nagging that games are a waste of time, notes Shaw, "they say: 'Screw you, my friends online love me, and I'll hang out with them.'") - US News & World Report

If you are concerned about your teen's game playing, call us today to learn how wilderness therapy can help!

US News & World Report's article also had some sobering statistics:

Concern is spreading among parents and mental-health professionals that the exploding popularity of computer and video games has a deeper dark side than simple couch-potatohood. Software sales jumped 28 percent last year to $9.5 billion; an average of nine games were sold every second of the year, according to the Entertainment Software Association. Studies show that 92 percent of children under age 18 play regularly. According to the Media Research Lab at Iowa State University, about 8.5 percent of 8-to-18-year-old gamers can be considered pathologically addicted, and nearly one quarter of young people-more males than females-admit they've felt addicted. Little wonder: In February, a team at Stanford University School of Medicine showed that areas of the brain responsible for generating feelings of addiction and reward are activated during game play. "We are seeing it over and over again," says Liz Woolley, founder of On-Line Gamers Anonymous, a virtual 12-step program for gaming addicts. "We're losing [kids] into the games, and it's turning their brains to mush."

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Both parents and professionals can find exceptional programs for troubled children, teenagers, and young adults at Aspen Education Group.

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