Unregulated internet addiction rehab

At least 10 million Chinese teenagers suffer from Internet addiction, and many parents are ready to try anything for a cure. To meet that demand, a number of organizations have come up with their own remedies. However, proper regulation is lacking to ensure the safety of the treatments.

If you Google the keyword "Cure for Internet addiction," chances are you will find any number of organizations claiming they can do it. And they all have unique treatment methods, ranging from electric shock therapy to military training. Experts say the lack of regulation, supervision and a clear definition of "Internet addiction" have led to a chaotic, and potentially dangerous, situation.

Zheng Xueqian, trustee of China Health Law Society, said, "There isn't a widely accepted definition of Internet addiction. Debates are still going on over whether Internet addiction is an illness or just a phase."

Due to the absence of a national standard, parents and their children cannot tell if a treatment method is safe. In July, the Ministry of Health banned electric shock therapy as a treatment for Internet addiction, fearing it may have side effects, and even cause death.