UConn’s VR Therapy Promises Breakthrough in Gambling Addiction
URGENT UPDATE: A groundbreaking virtual reality program at the University of Connecticut aims to tackle the alarming rise of gambling addiction among college students. Recent data reveals that young adults engage in risky gambling behaviors at rates two to four times higher than adults, fueled by the instant access provided by online casinos and betting apps.
Since January 2024, associate professor of psychological sciences Robert Astur has spearheaded a revolutionary two-week pilot program immersing students in a VR casino environment. The goal? To identify and eliminate gambling cues. Initial results are promising—students completing the program reported significantly fewer gambling urges and improved control over risky behaviors.
Astur’s work draws on a successful 2009 study led by Benoit Gerard at the University of Quebec, where a similar VR method helped participants combat smoking by finding and destroying virtual cigarettes. In that case, VR participants achieved a 15% abstinence rate versus just 2% in the control group.
The complete analysis of the gambling study is expected later this summer, but early findings suggest that VR could be a game-changer for addiction therapy. Astur states, “The future of addiction therapy might just be virtual,” emphasizing the potential to address not only gambling but also compulsive behaviors related to gaming, cannabis use, and smartphone addiction.
The stakes are high for young adults, whose developing brains make them particularly vulnerable to addiction. Doctoral student Finn Zakas highlights the far-reaching consequences of gambling addiction, including links to depression, increased suicide risk, poor academic performance, and strained relationships.
Participants, including senior psychology major Allison Millspaugh, have engaged in the VR program by using controllers to smash virtual slot machines and ignite blackjack cards, demonstrating an interactive approach to overcoming triggers.
Currently, 30 students are involved in the pilot, which was advertised through UConn’s Student Digest. They received small stipends for their participation and completed follow-up surveys to track their progress. Astur aims to expand the study’s scope and plans to publish comprehensive results in 2025.
As the urgency around gambling addiction grows, this innovative approach holds the potential to reshape treatment strategies and significantly impact the lives of college students. The implications of Astur’s findings may well extend far beyond UConn, promising a new frontier in addiction therapy that could truly change lives.
Stay tuned for more updates as this critical study unfolds. The implications of virtual reality in addiction therapy could redefine recovery methods for millions struggling with compulsive behaviors.
