Siberian psychologist Dr German Pilipenko started practicing a unique form of addiction¹ therapy termed the "method of limited exposure or pain" in 2004, according to the Siberian Times. The technique involves beating drug addicts² with a cane³ on their backsides（背部，臀部）.

 

"We cane the patients on the buttocks with a clear and definite medical purpose - it is not some warped⁴ sadomasochistic（施虐受虐狂的） activity," said Pilipenko's fellow practitioner⁵, Marina Chukhrova.

 

Pilipenko said he's treated more than a thousand patients, including Americans. They come seeking cures for their addictions⁶ to drugs, alcohol, work and even sex.

 

"I am the proof that this controversial treatment works," one of Pilipenko's patients, "Natasha," told the Times. "I recommend it to anyone suffering from an addiction or depression. It hurts like crazy -- but it's given me back my life."

 

Pilipenko said part of the reason the treatment works is because it releases endorphins into the blood stream, which are often depleted⁷ in addicts. But critics of the method insist that other, pain-free activities like eating chocolate release more endorphins.

 

The Moscow Times reports that unusual addiction therapies are nothing new. Hypnotism, black magic and even violent treatments have been reported before. A gang in Yekaterinburg, Russian allegedly handcuffed drug addicts to beds to wean them off drugs, according to the paper.

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