Drug addiction

By Alexandra Williams


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.

The good news is that for people taking prescription medication for the excitement and the high rather than for the illness, addiction is a treatable disease of the brain. As more and more doctors become educated about the dangers of prescription drug addiction and the signs to watch for, the problem is being better addressed. The truth is that for people, who truly need prescription drugs, the situation is frustrating but as doctors gain more knowledge and confidence associated with drug abuse, they play a vital role in separating the real needs from the false ones.

Today, as much as 95% of all psychiatry residency programs throughout the United States are now offering education associated with prescription drug addiction. On the other hand, less than 30% of medical fields such as pediatric address the potential problem.

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.

To combat the problem of prescription drug addiction, the federal government is putting programs in place for intervention, screening, referral, and even treatment. Many of these programs are being incorporated into businesses to help employees get through the addiction. The key really falls back to the doctors in taking the time to know their patients, to understand the illness, and then to work closely with the patient when prescribing the medication.

Biochemical repair can trigger dramatic changes in the body and improve total health and well-being. "I am sober, healthy and happy now," said Linda. "I can really enjoy my life again." People struggling with addiction have a better chance of maintaining long-term sobriety when treatment centers employ a complete recovery plan incorporating biochemical repair, talk therapy and strategies for a healthy lifestyle including nutrition and exercise. For decades, many treatment centers have been relying solely on talk therapy and have accepted the dismal success rates. By incorporating the "missing link" of biochemical repair, success rates can be significantly improved. ~ Joe Eisele is a nationally certified alcohol and drug therapist and the Clinical Director of InnerBalance Health Center in Fort Collins, CO.




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