Entering the Virtual Heroin Cave for Overcoming Addiction

In a new study aimed at helping heroin addicts, patients are taken into a virtual 'heroin cave.' Researchers are seeking to find out whether practicing saying no to drugs helps them gain more confidence in their efforts to overcome addiction. According to Reuters, one of the researchers in this project states that practicing saying no to drugs is a major step in overcoming addiction: 'We role-play together, but this is very different from counseling. In the office, the patient knows they are with a psychiatrist and there are no drugs involved.' However, in the 'heroin cave,' all the environments of a party where individuals are tempted to use drugs are recreated. Researchers from the University of Houston's School of Social Work in Texas have utilized an advanced virtual reality system in designing this 'cave.' The design includes details such as leftover pizza boxes, full ashtrays, and cash being passed around... designed to give addicts the feeling of being in a real environment. Patrick Bourdnik, one of the project leaders, says we need to practice saying no with patients in a real environment. An environment they are familiar with and know that drugs are present. Previous research on quitting smoking and virtual reality technology has shown that practicing in a virtual space gives smokers more confidence to say no to cigarettes in real life. Now researchers hope to use the results of this research to help patients addicted to other drugs as well.