Complimentary Therapies Enhance Addiction Treatment

Complimentary Therapies Enhance Addiction Treatment.Long-term sobriety is the ultimate goal of addiction treatment, but high rates of relapse show that talk therapy alone is not enough. Traditional addiction treatment primarily originates from the Minnesota Model developed during the late 1940′s and has remained relatively unchanged over the past decades. The cornerstone of the model relies primarily on talk therapy and that addictive behavior is the result of psychological dependencies which cause a person to rely on drugs and alcohol. The belief is that addiction is the sole result of mental needs. However, current research is supporting that those suffering from addiction have chemical imbalances that lead to physiological differences. As we learn more about the types of chemical imbalances that lead to addictive behavior, we are able to address them through natural means.

InnerBalance Health Center in Northern Colorado along with other similar types of treatment facilities are achieving outstanding success. This contrasts sharply with the traditional treatment success rates of approximately 20 percent. In a commonly cited study, Vaillant (1983) conducted a long-term research project following a cohort of alcoholics and concluded that only 19 percent of the alcoholics abstained from alcohol after a one year period and a dismal 5 percent abstained after 8 years. Another study by Walsh et al. (1991) found that 23 percent of the alcoholics studied reported abstaining after two years. Numerous studies report similar results which leads one to wonder why abstinence rates are so low and why treatment methods have not evolved to continually improve upon existing techniques and treatment effectiveness. Clearly, there is room for improvement.

Dr. Leshner said a user does not have control over the change when voluntary drug use becomes a compulsive addiction. He likens the change to a flip of a switch, although the change may be a result of opponent processes where changes have accumulated over time. Regardless, Dr. Leshner believes it is important that people understand that once addicted, a person is literally in a different brain state.

Treatment programs like InnerBalance Health Center seek to assist clients by giving them tools to improve both their emotional and physical well being. When complementary treatments are used in conjunction with group counseling, clients have a higher chance of long-term recovery. “I was in and out of many centers for treatment, with some short term help but no long term solutions,” reported Bob, a former client. “The other treatment centers only focused on two things-the mind and the spirit-and completely ignored the body. Therefore, there was no success in the long run. There was no comparison to the other type of treatment center. InnerBalance was much father ahead.” iochemical repair methods of replacement therapy involve the use of IV drips to supply amino acid, vitamin and mineral supplements which rapidly restore health. Clients find relief from withdrawal symptoms and receive a boost to their overall health almost immediately. At InnerBalance Health Center, clients also have membership to a health club. Incorporating yoga, meditation and exercise in the treatment plan provides clients with additional tools for managing stress.The transformations we see with patients are remarkable. Not only are cravings significantly reduced but our patients report significant improvements in almost all aspects of their life. Armed with this new-found confidence and improved health, our patients are much better prepared to handle the long-term recovery of permanent abstinence from drugs and alcohol. They are educated on the benefits of certain nutritional supplements and physical activity. Through talk therapy, clients have the psychological support necessary to help them handle the stresses that life can bring.

One very important point to know is that any drug use may set off these destructive behaviors in an individual and that using drugs “recreationally” is playing Russian Roulette with one’s life. The effects of these “poisons” on the brain and nervous system are always destructive, but the timeline of when the effects will be obvious varies from immediately to, sometimes, after years of “casual” use.

The scientist’s say that one of the tasks of treatment is to revert the brain to its original state or repairing the damage that these poisons can do. Some scientist believe that this can be done by introducing other drugs, then called medicines, into the delicate brain chemistry of someone suffering from drug addiction. That is what National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) is doing now as it begins to design new medications. “We have molecular targets,” Dr. Leshner said.” We don’t need serendipity.” Serendipity is defined as “a natural gift for making useful discoveries by accident.”

However, don’t be fooled by the scientist since they have yet to discover any medications that restore a person to full and, more importantly, enthusiastic living. These “medicines” are always a tradeoff in giving up some of the beauties of life to keep the addict from using a more destructive drug. For a total cure, one should pursue getting the original poisons out of the body and letting the body’s natural repair mechanism restore the person to his original, functional and loving self.

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