Canada: Rehabilitation Clinic Offers Withdrawal Program for

What's behind the luxury private clinic

Who the Luxury private clinic website opens, is greeted by a photograph showing shallow waves on the beach against a blue ocean and sky. Not necessarily what you think of when you think of a psychiatric facility - but the rehabilitation center consciously wants to stand out from others and sells itself as a safe haven. The main facility is in Mallorca, but there are also branches in Marbella, Zurich and London. The centers are operated by a wellness company founded in Switzerland.

Accommodated in a private villa

The clientele of the luxury private clinic also includes Don, who did not want his real name to be used, but according to the BBC report, he was accommodated in a private villa for four weeks. He was looked after by his own butler and chef. In addition to therapy, there were also massages, yoga and cycling tours. The hefty bill at the end was over $75,000. Don sought help because he had become addicted to trading cryptocurrencies and was investing around $200,000 a week.

Clinic advertises discretion

The luxury clinic, which advertises itself with the greatest possible discretion, is normally intended for the treatment of alcohol and drug addictions as well as behavioral disorders. Among other things, depression, burnout, anxiety disorders and trauma can be treated there. For Don, his stay was crowned with success. According to the BBC report, with the help of local therapists, he broke free of his addiction to crypto trading. So far, it is not yet widespread to seek help if you are addicted to crypto transactions.

Crypto trading is largely unregulated

In contrast to licensed gaming operators such as online casinos, which are supposed to proactively identify customers with problematic gaming behavior and point them in the direction of support services, trading in cryptocurrencies is still largely unregulated, even if calls for it continue to be loud. The treatment centers argue that crypto addiction has great parallels to gambling addiction, but is even more addictive because it is not only more unstable, but also more exciting. Additionally, transactions and investments are available 24/7, so there is never a clear break.

“Crypto trading appears to be legitimate, while gambling is seen as potentially problematic.” – Jan Gerber, managing director of the Zurich rehabilitation center Paracelsus Recovery, BBC report

Rehabilitation centers are opening everywhere

As the BBC has discovered, in the wake of the crypto boom, rehab centers are now popping up around the world advertising that they can treat crypto addiction. According to the BBC's research, most of these are luxury private clinics that also offer treatment for other addictions such as drugs, alcohol or eating disorders. When asked by the BBC, two addiction clinics and three similar rehabilitation centers said they had received hundreds of inquiries about crypto addiction in the last two years.

"The treatment of cryptoaddiction is similar to that of other addictions. It is a biopsychosocial disease that requires biopsychosocial intervention: medication in some cases, individual and group psychotherapy, change in habits and environment, (or) introduction of healthier replacement activities." – Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry at Stanford University and director of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, BBC report

Crypto trading is comparable to gambling

Experts like Anna Lembke argue that trading cryptocurrencies can be compared to gambling and should therefore be treated as such - especially because of the increasingly popular overlaps. The treatment of crypto addiction should therefore proceed in the same way as other addictions, for example starting with abstinence and dealing with withdrawal symptoms. These can range from anxiety to sleep disorders, but are usually limited in time. However, the costs of such luxury private clinics, which can quickly exceed tens of thousands of dollars, are not always justifiedigt.

"They make money off desperate people. Whether you're 'addicted' to trading cryptocurrencies, betting on sports, or playing the lottery, the symptoms and treatment are largely the same." – Lia Nower, director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers School of Social Work, BBC report

No certifications are required yet

No special certifications are required to treat crypto addiction yet, as the business is still in its infancy. The BBC's research found that most rehab center providers and therapists describe themselves as certified mental health counselors and a variety of addictions, from alcohol to drug abuse to gambling. While the signs and consequences are also similar - lying, debt, theft and many others - they are not everyone agrees on the overlaps.

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