
Addiction treatment with virtual reality therapy - interactive VR scenarios for alcohol, drug and gambling addiction
The VR Coach smart system offers innovative virtual reality therapy approaches for the treatment of addictions. With interactive scenarios for alcoholism, gambling addiction and drug addiction, it supports clinics and practices in designing effective therapy.
- This software package includes fully interactive scenarios for addiction treatment
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The topic of alcoholism is divided into three areas:
Bar, Supermarket and Private Party - Other confrontations take place in these scenarios to the topics of Slot machines, cigarette consumption, cannabis, cocaine, crack pipes and heroin paraphernalia and can be used interactively.
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In the addiction package, biofeedback data is also
of the patients by means of a finger sensor in real time
and can then be analyzed. - These VR exposures for addictions are also successfully carried out in groups


VR Scenarios for Treating Addictive Behavior
Our interactive VR scenarios help therapists to control the exposure of patients to addiction-triggering stimuli – customizable and realistic to the practice.
For detailed information on each scenario, click on "Details."

Bar with slot machines

Alcoholism and gambling addiction
Visiting a bar can be an enormous challenge for patients. Visual and acoustic stimuli seem seductive and inviting. In this scenario, those affected make their way in step by step.
Description of the scenario
Your patient starts off in the entrance area of a bar and can either go to the bar itself or to the slot machines.
Three slot machines are occupied and one is free.
Depending on the treatment, the therapist has different options.
- Click on “bar“: The slot machines disappear and the focus is on the bar.
- Click on “gambling”: The slot machines are then more noticeable due to the lights and noises and thus should entice the patient.
For the patients, there are the following interaction possibilities:
- They move through the room either by themselves or by clicking on the teleport points.
- At the bar they can choose different drinks by clicking on a drinks list.
- They can pick up the drink they have ordered and carry it or put it back.
- They can activate the free slot machine by pressing a button and win something.
- Guests can toast and return the gesture.
The therapist can trigger the following additional actions:
- If the patient is standing at the bar, with one click the bartender can pull a pint and serve it to the patient. This can also be taken in their hand and carried to a table.
- The other guests, including speech sounds, can be faded in or out.
- At the slot machine, the therapist can trigger a win for the patient.
- Individual conversations between avatars and patients. *
* This feature is only available with the VR Coach smart system for clinics!


Bar with slot machines

Old train station
A realistic train station scenario for confronting alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, crack, heroin, and ecstasy—complete with interactive consumption situations and controllable visual effects.

Alcoholism and Drug Use
An old train station with dark corners and a decaying atmosphere: This scenario addresses typical trigger situations for alcohol and drug use. For many patients, such a place represents a significant confrontation—through specific stimuli and typical consumption situations.
Description of the Scenario
Your patient begins in the entrance hall of an abandoned train station. From there, they can freely move around the entire area. Depending on the therapeutic goal, various substances can be specifically activated.
By clicking, the following substances can be activated:
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Alcohol
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Cannabis
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Cocaine
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Heroin
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Ecstasy
Each substance appears individually and is realistically staged. By clicking “Reset,” the environment will return to its original state. The “Visual Effects” button allows for the activation of visual perception changes—simulating a high or intensifying the exposure.
Interaction Options for the Patient:
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Free movement throughout the entire station and subway.
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Alcohol can be picked up and brought to the mouth.
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A cannabis joint can be lit and consumed.
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Cocaine can be consumed through a straw.
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Heroin: The powder on the spoon can be heated and drawn into a syringe; the syringe can, for example, be placed against the back of the hand.
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Pills can be taken in hand and swallowed.
Additional Actions the Therapist Can Trigger:
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Selective activation of individual substances with a click.
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Triggering visual effects to intensify the exposure.
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Resetting the entire environment to its original state.

Old train station

Gas Station

Gas Station
Even everyday places like a gas station can be a challenging environment for individuals with alcohol dependence. In this scenario, the patient’s behavior in such a situation is deliberately exposed and practiced.
Scenario Description
Your patient begins inside the gas station, directly in front of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The sales area is realistically designed and resembles a typical self-service gas station.
The patient has the following interaction options:
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They can move freely within the sales area and optionally use teleportation points on the floor or walk themselves.
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They can take any bottles and cans from the shelves, hold them, examine them more closely, and return them to the shelves.
- In the gas station, they can open the refrigerator and also open the cans they have taken out.

Gas Station

Supermarket

Shopping behaviour
Besides going to the bar, shopping in the supermarket is of course also a critical environment that can be exposed in this scenario and the patient’s behaviour can be practised.
Description of the scenario
At the beginning, your patient is standing in an aisle between shelves of bottles. In front of him is an empty shopping trolley. The shelves are filled with all different types of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
For the patients, there are the following interaction possibilities:
- He can move freely through the aisles using optional teleport points on the floor or walk himself.
- He can pick up all the bottles and cans himself and put them in the shopping trolley or put them back on the shelf.
- He can hold the shopping trolley with one or both hands and push it down the aisle.
The following actions can be additionally triggered by the therapist:
- Make all alcoholic drinks disappear at the touch of a button.
- Instead, make a larger selection of non-alcoholic drinks appear.

Supermarket

Toilet in a Night Club

Cocaine
Patients find themselves in a nightclub toilet. A thumping bass can be heard in the background. There are several “lines” of cocaine, a rolled-up banknote and a sachet of white powder on a large surface.
The following actions can be triggered by the patient:
- The lines can be consumed with the banknote.
- The toilet lid can be put up.
- The lines and the powder from the sachet can be tipped into the toilet.
- The toilet can be flushed.

Toilet in a Night Club

Anti Smoke Training

Nicotine
Reaching for a cigarette is often an automatic action in certain situations. This scenario is about alternative actions.
Description of the scenario
Patients are in an apartment. At various tables you are surrounded by cigarettes. Some of these are already smoking or can be set on fire. The following actions can be set as alternatives:
- Reach for the coffee cup and take a sip of coffee
- Grab a cookie, fruit or vegetable and take a bite
- Drink a glass of water or refill the empty glass
- Take a stress ball in your hand and squeeze it
- Opening a window to ventilate (there is already some smoke in the room due to the smoking cigarettes)
- Open the patio doors to go outside and breathe in some fresh air

Anti Smoke Training

BBQ with Drinks

BBQ with Drinks
Tasty foods and grilling habits are considered triggers for alcoholism.
Description of the scenario
Patients are standing on a terrace and watching two grills and a table. There are sausages and meat in the grill. Next to the grill is a cooler with beer cans and wine bottles. On the table are a chicken and additional drinks.
Interaction options
- Sausages and meat can be taken out of the grill with a fork and placed on a plate.
- The beer cans can be opened. The wine bottles can be opened with a corkscrew. The liquids can be poured into glasses.
- The chicken on the table can be shared.
- Alternatively, one can drink from a water bottle or pour it into a glass.

BBQ with Drinks

Back Alley

Crack and Heroin
Back alleys are often typical environments for hard drug use for patients from big cities. In this scenario, these consumption situations are confronted and alternative actions are trained.
Description of the scenario
Patients move through a side alley and can find a slightly hidden place with an improvised seat. There is a table with various utensils such as: crack pipe, spoon with powder, lighter, syringe and more.
The following actions can additionally be triggered by the therapist:
- The crack pipe can be ignited with the lighter
- The powder on the spoon can be boiled
- The syringe can be taken in your hand and brought to the back of your hand, for example
- All utensils can be thrown into a trash can
- The table, along with the utensils, can be thrown around

Back Alley

Private party

Alcoholism, cannabis, cocaine, and cigarette consumption
Besides the bar and the supermarket, a private party is another stumbling block on the way to an addiction-free life. In this scenario, the focus is on the inviting social atmosphere and the free availability of drinks, cigarettes, joints, and cocaine.
Description of the scenario
At the beginning, your patient stands in an apartment where there is a cosy seating area, a bar table with bar stools and an island unit, also with bar stools. . At all of the tables and seating areas there are other guests consuming alcoholic beverages. Drinks are also available for free consumption everywhere. On one table there is also a smoking ashtray with cigarette packs and individual cigarettes all around.
The following actions can additionally be triggered by the therapist:
- He moves freely through the living space and can visit all the seating groups.
- All bottles and glasses can be picked up.
- He can open a beer bottle himself with a bottle opener and hears the usual sound.
- The cigarette pack or individual cigarettes can also be picked up.
- Wine bottles can be opened with a corkscrew, and glasses can be refilled.
- Wine glasses can be emptied.
- Non-alcoholic drinks are also available.
- Cannabis joints can be taken from the table next to the ashtray. When smoking cigarettes or joints,
smoke develops while inhaling and exhaling. - A bong with cannabis can be lit with a lighter.
- Cocaine can be consumed with a rolled-up banknote.
- Music can be turned on and selected from eleven radio stations.
The following actions can be additionally triggered by the therapist:
- Two guests at the island unit raise their glasses and toast the patient. The patient can also pick up a glass there to toast.
- All alcoholic drinks can be hidden.
- All guests can be hidden.
- Cannabis and cocaine can be toggled on or off separately.
- Individual conversations between avatars and patients. *
* This feature is only available with the VR Coach smart system for clinics!

Private party
We add new scenarios several times a year.
If you have any special requests, we can even develop individual scenarios or 360-degree films for your very own needs. Please do not hesitate to contact us!
Dr. Mathias Luderer talks about his work with the VR Coach smart system
Working with the
VR-Coach smart system

Learn about our flexible pricing models for the VR therapy software now.
As soon as you have suitable hardware, you can immediately install our software and get started.
We would be happy to advise you personally and work together to find the right model for your facility.
What else you should know - FAQs
Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our VR therapy software, its application, and integration into therapeutic practice.
What are VR scenarios?
Virtual Therapy Environments with Interactive Elements
VR scenarios are computer-generated, realistic environments where your patients can actively move around. They interact with objects, perform tasks, and experience emotional reactions, which are used for VR psychotherapy.
Therapist-Controlled Content for Targeted Interventions
Therapists supervise the session live on the screen and can intervene directly in the scenario. This allows for adjusting the difficulty level, introducing new stimuli, or playfully addressing difficult topics – all in line with an interactive therapy approach.
For which types of addiction is the VR software suitable?
VR Therapy for Substance Use Disorders
Our VR therapy software focuses on the treatment of addiction disorders where visual stimuli play a central role. It is particularly well-suited for substance use disorders such as alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and other illegal substances.
Realistic VR Scenarios for Addiction Confrontation
In the virtual environment, typical high-risk situations can be realistically depicted – such as parties, supermarkets, or public places. These VR scenarios enable targeted VR psychotherapy and support addiction treatment in an interactive way.
What devices are required for use?
Technical Requirements for the VR Therapy Software
To use our VR therapy software, you will need a high-performance gaming PC, a VR headset with integrated cameras, and optionally a biofeedback sensor.
Our solution is scalable for both large clinics and smaller practices. The hardware requirements remain consistent, ensuring seamless integration – regardless of the area of use for the VR therapy.
How can the software be integrated into existing therapy concepts?
Supplement to Traditional Addiction Treatment in Individual Sessions
Interactive VR therapy can effectively complement traditional methods. In individual sessions, virtual confrontation is used to experience high-risk situations, provoke cravings, and train coping strategies in real-time.
Use in Groups and Therapeutic Diversity
VR psychotherapy can also provide valuable insights in a group setting – even for participants who are only observing. The immersive experience of VR scenarios encourages reflection, exchange, and greater emotional involvement.
What advantages does the app offer over traditional methods?
More Than Stimulus Confrontation: Contextual Depth
Our app not only focuses on confrontation with substances but also addresses the entire context of addiction treatment. Patients experience places like train stations, bars, or supermarkets – typical high-risk situations – from a first-person perspective.
Realistic Reactions and Targeted Interventions
Through this realistic portrayal, emotions and automatic responses are authentically triggered. Therapists can then intervene strategically and apply personalized strategies for addiction treatment.
Is there a free trial option?
Two-week trial of the VR therapy software with your own hardware
Clinics and practices that already have compatible hardware can test our VR therapy software for two weeks free of charge. This allows them to try out the practical benefits without any investment risk.
On-site live demo with complete equipment
Alternatively, a non-binding demonstration can be booked directly at your location – including our own hardware and personal support from expert staff. We will bring all the equipment and give you a hands-on introduction to the world of interactive VR therapy – tailored to your specific needs.
Are there regular new contents or updates?
Regular Expansion of the VR Therapy Software for Modern Psychotherapy
Our software is continuously being developed. New VR scenarios and features are released 2–3 times a year. This ensures that our VR therapy remains up-to-date – for long-term, professional use in clinics and practices.