VOA常速英语2019--一家独特的西雅图康复中心帮助人们戒除网瘾

As smartphones get smarter, people put them down less and less, and that can be a problem.A 2014 University of Hong Kong study estimated about 6 percent of the world’s population, over 400 million people, are actually addicted to their devices.But there are places helping people who just content plug, like this one on a secluded farm outside Seattle.This is a detox farm for people addicted to their iPhones, gaming and the internet.Patients are fully disconnected from the outside world for months, no internet and no cell phones.Nineteen-year-old Thomas has been here for almost a month. His issue is gaming.“I play a lot of shooters, but I also actually played for my colleges, one of my college’s e-Sports teams so.”When he started feeling depressed, his parents took him to this program called reSTART. It’s not cheap and costs over five hundred dollars a day, but for many, it’s worth it.Life here is strict, bedtimes are enforced, and patients have jobs on the farm.They work out, clean and cook, then patients come to Seattle where they relearn how to live a balanced life and regain lost communication skills.“A lot of people go online because they have friends there, and they feel like they get their social needs met online, in those, in those online communities.”

随着智能手机变得更加智能，人们花在上面的时间越来越多，这会成为一个问题。香港大学2014年的一项研究估计，全球约6%的人口，即超过4亿人事实上对手机上瘾。但有一些地方帮助那些沉迷的人，例如在西雅图郊外一个清净的农场里的恢复中心。这是一个为那些沉迷于手机、游戏和互联网的人准备的戒瘾农场。患者完全与外界隔绝数个月的时间，没有互联网，也没有手机。现年19岁的托马斯在这里已经快一个月了。他的问题是玩游戏。“我长时间玩射击类游戏，但我事实上也为我的大学玩游戏，参加一个大学电子运动队。”当他开始感到沮丧的时候，他的父母带他来到这个名为reSTART的项目。这个项目不便宜，每天花费超过500美元，但对很多人来说，这是值得的。这里的生活规定严格，睡觉时间强制执行，患者在农场有工作。他们锻炼身体，打扫卫生，做饭，接受治疗的人来到西雅图，在这里重新学习如何平衡生活、重获失去的沟通技能。“很多人上网是因为他们在网上有朋友，他们觉得自己的社交需求在网络、在那些网络社区得到了满足。”

reSTART has 10 themed rooms where patients can tune out, lounge, paint or play with Legos. Mobile internet use is strictly forbidden.Patients can use phones only to make calls or text.There are laptops in the center, but their use is limited to two hours a day.Two years ago, Alex spent at least ten hours a day in front of his computer.“Video games are the devil, absolutely the devil, don’t play them, more of a joke for me, but regulation, taking a look at how much tech you should have in your life.”Alex finished the two-year long rehabilitation course, since then he hasn’t played any video games and only uses his cell phone when absolutely necessary.

reSTART有10间主题房间，患者可以在其中摆脱网络、懒洋洋地躺着、绘画或玩乐高积木。移动互联网被严格禁止。患者只能用手机打电话或发短信。该中心有笔记本电脑，但每天的使用时间仅限两小时。两年前，亚历克斯每天在电脑前面至少花10个小时。“视频游戏是魔鬼，绝对是魔鬼，不要玩，对我来说更像是一个笑话，但要有规则，审视你的生活中到底需要有多少技术。”亚历克斯完成了为期两年的康复课程，自那以后，他没有玩过任何视频游戏，只在绝对必要时才使用手机。 

reSTART was founded in 2009 and has helped over 400 people overcome Internet addiction.Yet chief clinical director Hilarie Cash says the problem is growing.“Technology by design is actually very addictive, the people who build the apps, and make the video games are quite purposeful.”But no matter how compelling the internet can be, places like reSTART are teaching the value of being a part of the real world.

reSTART创立于2009年，已帮助400多人克服了网瘾。然而，首席临床主任希拉瑞·凯什说，这方面的问题越来越多。“技术实际上设计得让人非常容易上瘾，开发应用程序和制作视频游戏的人都很有目的性。”但无论互联网是多吸引人，像reSTART这样的地方都在教导人们成为现实世界一部分这种价值观。