Virtual reality helps people stay sober when the “real world” gets too real

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Transcript

00:00It looks like your average virtual reality game, but the lessons learned here could end up saving lives.

00:06They don't really take it very seriously, but once they actually put the headset on and navigate through those environs,

00:12they realize that their body actually is being triggered by some of those particular scenes.

00:17Triggered, because these are recovering alcoholics looking to return to social settings.

00:22Patients at the Mansfield Texas Addiction Recovery Center learn to manage the triggers that can set them off.

00:28They'll start talking about my hands are getting a little bit clammy, my breathing is changing.

00:33So they recognize those changes in their body just by being exposed to these stimuli in a virtual environment.

00:39The goal is to engage as many senses as possible, ultimately deactivating their automatic nervous system.

00:45The better the patient's ability to manage their body's response, the more likely they'll be able to make positive decisions towards sobriety,

00:52which is even harder around the holidays.

00:54We actually can customize it to their drink of choice.

00:58So they've got the headset on.

01:00We can just pass that somewhere around their nose and they'll have that reaction like,

01:05wow, that actually smells like gin or that smells like vodka.

01:10Alcohol is a normal part of gatherings in our culture.

01:14This allows them to kind of practice those types of environments.

01:17Studies show the average American drinks 27% more during the holidays.

01:21It's a $49 billion business between Thanksgiving and New Year's.

01:25Dr. Jones says once they have a plan in place, they'll have the tools to not only identify the triggers,

01:31but have tools to navigate around it.

01:34For Straight Arrow News, I'm Jack Henry.