Patent ID: 8272875

Claim:
An addiction simulator for use in an educational program for simulating addictive behavior effected by addiction to an addictant without means for dispensing of the addictant, comprising: (a) an enclosure; and (b) an addictive behavior simulation system within the enclosure for periodically requesting simulated addictive behavior, including at least: (i) a means for generating a perceptible addictant demand signal; (ii) an interval timer in communication with the addictant demand signal generating means for initiating generation of the addictant demand signal at intervals selected from (A) intervals of substantially identical duration, (B) intervals of varying and patternless duration, and (C) intervals of diminishing duration representative of the development of tolerance for the requested addictant; and (iii) an inventory control system comprising an electronic circuit effective for: (A) generating an initial addictant inventory value; (B) detecting a request for addictant from an assigned individual in response to a generated addictant demand signal, including detection of the amount of addictant requested; (C) decrementing the addictant inventory value in response to a detected request for addictant by the amount of addictant requested when the inventory value is greater than the amount of addictant requested; and (D) generating a perceptible refusal signal in response to a detected request for addictant when the addictant inventory value is less than the amount of addictant requested.