While detox and residential rehab are still common types of addiction treatment, several alternative approaches are available. These methods often complement more traditional treatments and may help reduce your risk of relapse.
Acupuncture, EEG biofeedback, and neurofeedback are alternative addiction treatment options that can be used in addiction treatment settings to monitor physiological changes in the brain and identify psychological processes that need treatment.
Holistic Treatment
Holistic treatment aims to bring the body, mind and spirit into balance. It combines traditional counseling and therapy concepts with meditation, acupuncture, nutrition, exercise programs and art and animal therapy.
This type of care addresses physical and mental symptoms of addiction and emotional and nutritional imbalances. It also addresses factors disrupting recovery, such as stress or a lack of sleep.
A holistic approach to substance abuse treatment can complement evidence-based methods like individual and group therapy or the 12-Step program. It can help people cope better with their addiction and may attract them to treatment who otherwise wouldn’t have considered it.
A holistic approach to drug and alcohol abuse helps people develop healthier ways of coping with stress, trauma, depression, grief and other issues that lead to addiction. It helps them strengthen their ability to resist temptation and stay focused on recovery. This can prevent them from relapsing and allow them to get into long-term recovery.
Harm Reduction
Harm reduction is an alternative approach to addiction treatment that recognizes the harmful consequences of drug use. It is a realistic, pragmatic, humane and successful approach to addressing substance use issues.
A harm reduction program provides information and assistance to people addicted to drugs while providing safer alternatives. This can include syringe exchange programs, sterile injection supplies, safer injecting facilities and overdose prevention services.
It also provides access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for those who are opioid dependent. MAT is a form of substance abuse treatment that involves the administration of naltrexone or other drugs to help people overcome their cravings and avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Harm reduction is a non-judgmental and compassionate approach that meets people where they are, without coercion or discrimination. It also supports the dignity of people who use drugs and acknowledges that poverty, class, racism, social isolation, past trauma and sex-based discrimination affect their ability to cope with drug-related harm.
12-Step Programs
12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), are often used as an addiction treatment in Lexington. They offer a way to connect with peers in recovery, share experiences and learn new skills.
One of the most critical aspects of 12-step groups is that they are entirely confidential. This ensures that participants can open up about their struggles with substance use in a safe, trusting environment.
Another critical feature of 12-step groups is that they offer accountability. For example, if a regular misses a meeting, other members will likely try to check in with them.
Research suggests that people participating in 12-step programs are more likely to stay abstinent. They also report better overall outcomes, including improved physical and mental health.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is a practical and evidence-based approach to treating substance use disorders. It is a holistic approach that combines medications with counseling and other therapeutic techniques to provide a “whole-patient” system.
MAT can help people stop using drugs and stay sober. It aims to restore balance in the brain circuits disrupted by substance use.
It is a proven way to treat opioid addiction. It involves a medication-based approach that is supervised by a medical professional. Methadone, buprenorphine (Suboxone), and extended-release naltrexone (Vivitrol) are the most commonly used medications for MAT.
Despite the effectiveness of MAT, it is often misunderstood. Some people think that MAT replaces one drug with another when in reality, it helps individuals manage the symptoms of their addiction and reduces relapse rates.
