At one time, addiction was seen as a problem that afflicted the weak. It was thought that anyone could stop using drugs if he or she had enough willpower. More recently, doctors have learned that addiction is a complex disease changes the brain in ways that completely negate your willpower. Most people have no control over their addiction, and one type of treatment may not work for everyone. Still, some types of alternative addiction treatment for substance abuse disorders are so controversial that you might wonder whether they’re worth it.

Aversion Therapy for Addiction Treatment

Most drugs interact with the reward centers of the brain. When you do something that brings you pleasure, your brain wants more of the positive feelings that are associated with that behavior. This also happens when you chat with a good friend, go shopping or eat a delicious meal. The reward circuit tells you to do the activity again.

The more you do it, the more it gets solidified into your neural pathways. Even if substance abuse brings about negative side effects, the strong association with pleasure keeps you seeking it out.

Aversion therapy disassociates substance abuse and good feelings. It conditions you to associate negative consequences with taking drugs.

One type of aversion therapy involves administering a medication like Antabuse to people who use alcohol. Antabuse makes you feel sick if you drink while you’re taking it. Eventually, you might feel sick just thinking about alcohol.

This is what happens when many people get food poisoning, for example. If you throw up after eating your favorite food, you might never be able to eat it again.

Some critics say that it isn’t moral to intentionally make someone feel terrible. Aversion therapy doesn’t ease cravings or withdrawal symptoms. It doesn’t address the motivation behind the addiction. To be effective, aversion therapy should be combined with treatments that provide positive reinforcement.

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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

According to the Mayo Clinic^[1], transcranial magnetic stimulation was developed to treat depression. However, some doctors are using it to help people with addiction.

Addiction reorganizes your brain at a cellular level. New pathways and communication signals are created. Electrical activity in some areas of the brain, such as the regions that inhibit you from engaging in destructive behaviors, is diminished. Stimulating these areas of the brain can make you forget about your voracious desire to get high.

When performing transcranial magnetic stimulation, a medical professional holds a wand near the patient’s head. An electric current moves through a coil in the wand, creating a magnetic pulse. This changes the electrical activity in the brain. National Geographic^[2] tells the story of a cocaine user who stopped having cravings and abusing the substance after undergoing treatment.

This non-invasive procedure doesn’t require sedation and is generally considered safe. However, patients may experience side effects such as headaches, lightheadedness and spasms in their facial muscles.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, is one of the most controversial types of alternative addiction treatment. During this treatment, electrodes deliver a mild shock to a patient’s brain. The electricity causes a mild seizure.

The side effects of ECT can be intense. They include memory loss, confusion, emotional damage and cognitive decline, according to STAT. The long-term safety of ECT has not been established.

Although the treatment has come a long way in the past several decades, it is still controversial. For patients that are at a high risk of overdose or suicide and haven’t responded to any other treatments, ECT has been found to be effective.

Deep Brain Stimulation

Deep brain stimulation is one of the most invasive procedures. It involves surgery to place a small device in your brain. The device delivers electrical signals to interfere with the activity in that area.

Psych Central^[3] says that there is no proof that this treatment works. Moreover, there are no specific guidelines for doctors who want to use deep brain stimulation. Side effects include depression, hallucinations, infection and brain hemorrhage.

Psychedelic Drugs

Studies that are more than three decades old found that giving a small dose of LSD to people who were being treated for alcohol abuse was effective for reducing alcohol consumption and preventing relapse, according to Scientific American^[4]. Experts were surprised that just one dose could be effective. They thought that the chemical might provide the clarity that patients needed to turn their lives around.

Many researchers agree that psychedelic drugs have undiscovered potential. However, the effects of these substances can be unpredictable. That’s why it’s best to use them only under the supervision of a medical professional. Dropping acid at home is not the answer to addiction.

It can be devastating to relapse after going through treatment for substance abuse. Addiction is a complex disease, and there is not one way to cure it. The best drug and alcohol rehab centers offer a variety of therapies and customize a treatment plan for each patient. Taking a multi-faceted approach that involves withdrawal management, psychotherapy, emotional support, life skills training and stress-reduction techniques is the most effective way to combat addiction.

Addiction Treatment that Lasts

For the best and strongest foundation in recovery, professionals agree that inpatient addiction treatment carries the highest success rates. By choosing inpatient treatment vs outpatient treatment, you are taking the first step towards a new life.

If you decide to commit to residential drug treatment, finding a safe, ethical and caring drug rehab is most important. Looking for certain qualities in a rehab will help to weed out other the options that may not have your best interests at hand. Quality and ethical addiction treatment will offer the following:

If you or a loved one are ready for addiction treatment, or if you’d like more information, contact an addiction counselor at Ocean Hills Recovery today for help.

Sources:

[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/about/pac-20384625

[2] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/09/the-addicted-brain/

[3] https://blogs.psychcentral.com/addiction-recovery/2012/06/top-5-most-controversial-addiction-treatments/

[4] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lsd-may-cure-some-addicts/

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does drug and alcohol rehab last?

The length of your stay at drug and alcohol rehab will vary for each person attending rehab and from treatment center to treatment center. Most inpatient programs are at least 30 days long; however, some programs may incorporate a shorter inpatient stay with a more extended outpatient stay. The best rehab centers will provide a more custom treatment plan for each person that takes into account the individual’s needs before determining the length of treatment. Ocean Hills Recovery offers a variety of options for addiction treatment. A typical stay at our inpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs last between 30 to 45 days.

Do I need inpatient or outpatient treatment?

Outpatient is an excellent option for people who are unable to take time away from work or their families while receiving addiction treatment. Inpatient treatment is an excellent option for people who can be away from their work or families for at least several weeks for treatment. We recommend that you contact a reliable treatment center, like Ocean Hills Recovery, for a complete assessment before you decide whether inpatient or outpatient treatment for addiction is best for you.

Should I get addiction treatment locally or away?

The answer to whether you should go away or stay local for addiction treatment is very individual. Many people need to get away from their everyday life for them to fully submerge themselves in their addiction recovery process. For these individuals, going to an out of state treatment center is the best option to be able to commit fully and concentrate on their recovery. For others, this is not an option because of work or family obligations.

What do I do if I don’t have insurance for drug rehab?

There are options for drug rehab, even if you don’t have insurance. When you decide to get help, the best thing to do is to find a treatment philosophy that you believe may help and contact them for assistance. Rehab professionals can help you determine if you have insurance coverage for addiction treatment, and what options are best for you. Many drug rehabs accept insurance but also have private pay, or financing options available. Contact our rehab admissions specialist today, and we can help you navigate insurance questions, payment options, and treatment plans.

How to find a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website is a great place to start when you are looking for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. We recommend that you make a list of a few different centers to contact and speak with them to get a feel for their programs, therapies, and staff and find the center that you feel most comfortable with. Have a list of questions that you can ask each center to help you through the process. One of the most important questions to ask is if the rehab holds accreditation by CARF. Having a state license is no longer enough to ensure that a rehab center is reputable. If the rehab holds CARF accreditation, they have had to meet a more strict set of guidelines and procedures.

Do I need detox before addiction treatment?

Many people require detox to help manage withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs. There are several factors that we take into consideration to determine if you will need detox before addiction treatment. Our admissions professionals work with each person to obtain a thorough history of substance use and other medical conditions to help make the appropriate recommendations for care. You must give accurate information so that we can keep you as comfortable as possible if you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. However, detox is only the first step in addiction recovery. For long-lasting addiction recovery, a person must deal with the underlying issues that lead to substance use in the first place. Contact us today for a confidential assessment.

Alternative Addiction Treatment Methods