Substance abuse treatment philosophies can be divided into two broad categories: those that favor a holistic approach and those that use an evidence-based approach. While these treatment strategies have often been deployed in a mutually exclusive way, they both offer benefits and can be integrated to create a custom-tailored recovery program that yields lasting results.The Benefits of Evidence-Based Therapies
Evidence-based therapies are grounded in science and use detoxification strategies that include medications, psychotherapy, and counseling to treat acute withdrawal symptoms while addressing the underlying causes of substance abuse. When these strategies are conscientiously applied and attuned to individual needs, they tend to lead to predictable results that help patients get through the difficult initial phases of substance abuse cessation, while also empowering them with the psychological skills to avoid relapses.
Holistic Approaches to Addiction
Alternative therapies are generally geared towards activating the body's natural "feel-good" chemical reactions, helping the patient overcome addiction naturally while achieving a stronger sense of tranquility and inner harmony. Examples of holistic approaches include massage therapy, exercise therapy, yoga, art and music therapy, meditation, neurofeedback, and acupuncture, among others. Proper nutrition also plays a foundational role in holistic programs.
Proponents of these approaches emphasize that, because they do not substitute one drug for another, they help patients break the cycle of chemical dependence. For example, evidence-based approaches to heroin addiction have, for many years, been built around substituting heroin with a longer-acting and ostensibly less dangerous drug such as methadone, then reducing the patient's dosage until physical addiction has been overcome. While this approach can work in a carefully controlled clinical setting, critics have long contended that it effectively masks the problem rather than solving it.
Holistic approaches help patients recover their body's original state – the state it was in before substance abuse created the chemical changes that led to addiction.
Complimentary Combined Approaches to Addiction Treatment
At Complete Harmony Rehab, we've developed a groundbreaking hybrid addiction treatment program that combines the scientifically supported benefits of evidence-based approaches with the restorative power of holistic therapies. This unique treatment program is designed to help patients struggling with addictions to alcohol, street drugs, and prescription drugs, as well as relapses and co-occurring mental illnesses.
We recognize the shortcomings of one-size-fits-all approaches to addiction treatment, and we work with patients on an individual basis to develop custom-tailored treatment programs. If you or someone you care about is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, we invite you to learn more about our unique approach to recovery. Please contact us confidentially to learn more.
