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Iboga Blog
rehab
25th March 2020 • Sticky Post
Recovery and Spirituality: Understanding the links
“Spirituality” is a difficult concept to pin down, and one that many people have a strong response to. Some might instantly conjure up images of the Bible, the Star of David, or another organized religion. Others might immediately think of new-age touchstones like healing crystals or meditation. And most people have strong, instinctive positive and negative responses to religious concepts and images. But spirituality isn’t some vague riddle or standard set of rules and morals. Spirituality is something that is woven into the fabric of your everyday life, and learning to access it, explore it, and draw strength from it can be an invaluable resource as you go through the process of recovery
Understanding "Spirituality"
Many people are put off by the religious overtones of the concept of spirituality, but at Iboga Tree Healing House we feel that spirituality is the search for meaning, purpose, and a sense of connection to the world around you. For many people, it involves a search for connections with something greater than oneself, such as God, the universe, humanity, or nature. But it doesn’t have to be anything more specific than exploring the meaning of your experiences. There isn’t a right or wrong way to be spiritual, and for most people perspectives on spirituality evolve as they go through life, encounter new ideas, and develop new perspectives.
What Spirituality Isn’t
Many people who consider themselves Atheists or Agnostics and others who have painful or traumatic memories connected with religion are justifiably leery of being compelled to join in religious practices and ceremonies. But spirituality shouldn’t be tied to any particular God, moral code, or set of practices. While closely connected to religious belief, spirituality is personal and can remain private. The search for meaning and purpose can be undertaken through prayer, yoga, and tai chi. But it can also be accomplished in ways that don’t carry any religious baggage such as mindfulness practice, keeping a journal, or spending time in nature. You can define your own spiritual beliefs and the path which will keep your soul in tune with them.
Why Is Spirituality Important In Recovery?
One of the greatest benefits of spiritual practice is the connection you’ll rebuild with yourself. One of the first things people lose in addiction is their connection to their own personal sense of morality. Spirituality will allow you to re-discover your sense of right and wrong. Knowing your own beliefs and principles will allow you to develop your own, personalized guide to living a good life, and pursuing your goals in a positive and constructive fashion. One incredibly important pillar of the recovery process is re-learning how to be honest and truthful in your dealings with yourself and others, and spiritual practice is immeasurably helpful in this regard.
Another moral lesson that spiritual exploration often imparts is the importance of respecting yourself and others. Addiction has a corrosive effect on self-esteem and creates a deep sense of shame among the addicted. The overwhelming desire to get more of what you need also forces the addict to take advantage of others, ignore their needs and desires, and behave with monstrous selfishness. If you grew up an in abusive situation, the need to learn respect for yourself and others is even more acute. The good news is that embarking on a spiritual journey is almost guaranteed to build a sense of respect. As cultural anthropologists have noted: “Respect is essential to all the world's religions and is universally seen as a building block to a more human and humane world.”
Spirituality is also a wonderful tool for gaining perspective on your problems. An understanding of the inter-connectedness of people, nature, and the universe can help you realize that seeking understanding and support from those around you isn’t a sign of weakness or failure. Learning to admit the existence of problems and ask for help in dealing with them can make all the difference when you’re attempting to heal yourself and rebuild your life, and the sense of fellowship that can be developed with spiritual practice makes it much easier to share your burdens with the people around you. Spirituality makes it much easier to let go of your pride, admit that you are flawed, and receive support from your peers, friends, and family. Exploring your humanity allows you to see that we all share human weaknesses and that by working together we can turn that weakness into a strength.
Spirituality is also beneficial for giving recovering addicts a sense of purpose and meaning in their new lives. One of the most attractive elements of addiction is that it boils down all of life’s myriad problems into a single, simple dilemma: how can I get more of the substance I need? When you enter recovery, you might feel overwhelmed by all of the new challenges that appear. Getting your finances in order, sorting out relationships that have been strained to the breaking point, re-building your professional life, and dealing with legal issues are a few common issues that spring up. If you don’t find a sense of purpose and meaning as you confront these thorny problems, relapse will seem like a tempting way of escape.
Spiritual exploration will also push you towards building a meaningful life, allowing you to discover your unique talents, abilities, and gifts, and illuminating the ways you can make use of them for the benefit of yourself and others. Most spiritual paths will help seekers realize the importance of using their wisdom, struggles, and experiences to help others. For those in recovery, this is a beautiful way to help yourself and rebuild your shattered self-esteem by helping others. Watching others follow the 12 Steps or another path towards sobriety will reinforce the lessons you’ve learned, and fill your heart with hope, love, and renewed conviction.
Iboga Tree Healing House and Spirituality
At Iboga Tree Healing House, we feel that nurturing spirituality is an integral part of the recovery process. Iboga therapy is a fundamental part of the Bwiti spiritual traditions of Africa, and one of its effects in addition to interrupting addiction is building connections to what Douglas Adams called “Life, the Universe and Everything.” We also attempt to create a sense of spirituality in our clients by offering a wide range of holistic therapies, including yoga, mindfulness and meditation. If you’re looking for a treatment center that fosters spirituality as it helps patients to recover, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
4th March 2020 • Sticky Post
Treating Addiction: How Does NAD+ Help?
What Is NAD+?
NAD+, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is scientifically defined as a naturally occurring co-enzyme of niacin. A close relative of vitamin B3, it aids in our bodies’ production of energy by converting energy obtained from food into cellular energy. The substance was discovered in 1906, and a recent study by Harvard researchers found that the NAD+ helped to reverse the effects of aging in mice. The body’s production and supply of NAD+ decreases with age, but Harvard professor of genetics David Sinclair, the study’s director, found that regular injections of NAD+ reversed the effects of vascular degeneration and muscle atrophy among the rodents studied. NAD+ essentially allows for the growth of new blood vessels, which keep muscles and other cells in the body from wasting away. It is also has been proven to increase neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to repair itself.
The results of this study have led many anti-aging clinics to offer NAD+ therapy, which is also touted by providers for treating chronic fatigue syndrome, increasing focus and energy, aiding in detox from drugs and alcohol, increasing the metabolic rate, and improving cardiovascular health. While long term studies on the effects of NAD+ don’t yet exist, the medical establishment seems quite optimistic about its therapeutic uses.
How Does NAD+ Impact Addiction?
An interesting fact gleaned from research which has been conducted is that addicts typically have lower than average levels of NAD+ in their bodies. Some even speculate that lower than average levels of the substance might be one of the causes of dependence on alcohol and drugs. Some diseases that frequently co-occur with addiction also have the effect of depleting the body’s stores of NAD+, including post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression.
One provider of the therapy explains its use in detox and recovery like this: “NAD+ has a significant role in reducing the withdrawal effects by restoring the neurotransmitter balance, which shifts significantly after the drug that's been withdrawn has been removed. As a result, the patient experiences almost no withdrawal symptoms whilst and after completing the infusion cycle.”
Dr. Mark Collins, a British physician and psychologist specializing in addictions, is more measured in his assessment, stating “I have now witnessed its use in many patients, and I am very impressed with the short-term results, what is clearly needed is more research, and in particular longer-term outcome studies.”
Testimonials from addicts who have used NAD+ to aid in their recovery are positive. A recent Vice article by a reporter who experimented with NAD+ treatment to combat cravings for alcohol offered a generally positive review. The reporter also interviewed a crack addict who found that “I’d be lying if I said the thoughts [about picking up] aren't in my mind, and in my mind often, but that deep 'urge' that addicts will know about isn't there any longer.”
While most NAD+ treatments rely on intravenous injections, the substance can also be obtained through foods and nutritional supplements. Milk, fish, mushrooms, whole grains, peanuts, and garden vegetables are all rich in this nutrient. And Dr. Collins notes that “It's been known for decades that a high dose of vitamin B3—the 'poor man's' way of elevating NAD levels—has a beneficial effect for alcoholics, both in terms of detoxification and, perhaps more importantly, in reducing craving and anxiety levels after detoxification.”
In fact, Bill Wilson (better known as Bill W., co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous) experimented with large doses of NAD+ in 1960. He began taking 3000 mg of niacin (a vitamin which naturally contains NAD+) and found that it reduced the fatigue and depression which had plagued him for years. Excited about this discovery, “Wilson gave the same doses to 30 of his close friends in AA, hoping it could be replicated. Of the 30, 20 he later reported became free of anxiety, tension, and depression in one or two months.” Wilson tried to share news of his discovery and wrote a pamphlet, but the treatment was deemed too controversial by AA’s board of directors and his campaign was suppressed.
Treatment Successes, But No Long-Term Studies
Flood doses of NAD+ have been used to treat addiction in South Africa since the 1960s, and the first clinic offering the treatment, the Springfield Wellness Center, founded by Psychotherapist Paula Mestayer and her Psychiatrist husband Richard, opened in America in 2001. They have since treated over 1000 patients, and Paula Mestayer says that the treatment “is not a cure, but rather maintenance,” and that many clients find it necessary to come back for booster doses. She also has found that the treatment is most effective when treating dependence on alcohol and opiates.
In spite of 70 years of evidence of the substantial benefits NAD+ therapy can offer addicts and those afflicted with a host of other ailments, there haven’t been long-term clinical studies on its efficacy and effects. It is reminiscent of ibogaine’s painstaking journey into the mainstream. While side-effects of NAD+ are usually limited to dizziness and perhaps a day or two of flu-like symptoms, we can’t be absolutely sure that NAD+ treatment is 100% safe in the long-term. But as the opioid epidemic rages on around the world and overdose tallies mount, investigating a promising treatment like NAD+ is indeed a sensible option.
At Iboga Tree Healing House, we feel that it’s the responsibility of governments and addictions professionals to explore every avenue that could possibly lead to the end of addiction. And as we come to understand the cognitive and neurological processes which create the addicted mind, treatments such as NAD+ and iboga seem ever more sensible and promising.
18th February 2020 • Sticky Post
Finding The Right Iboga Treatment Program: 5 Important Tips
Finding The Right Iboga Treatment Program
So you’ve heard a lot about what iboga treatment is capable of doing to interrupt addiction, allow individuals to face trauma, or facilitate spiritual growth. You’ve poked around the internet to find out how iboga treatment works, and you’ve seen testimonials from people who’ve transformed their lives with the help of this powerful substance. You’re ready to take the plunge, and it’s time to find the iboga treatment program that will guide you through this life-changing experience. Today, we’ll give you five tips to find a program that meets your unique, individual needs.
1) Safety is Paramount
We have written extensively about the need for medical supervision and responsible use of iboga because we care passionately about it. Iboga is an extremely powerful substance, and we simply cannot overstate the importance of choosing a treatment center that takes the necessary precautions to keep you healthy and safe. This means that a clinic should be asking you for a detailed medical and psychiatric history. They should know what substances you’ve been using, how much you’ve been using, and for how long. They should take a full blood panel, and perform tests to ensure that your heart, liver, and kidneys are functioning properly. They should have a detailed emergency plan in place. Their staff should have medical training, and they should have a doctor on staff.
The Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance has a lot of information on the safety of iboga use, and they offer a list of guidelines for clinical use. We would strongly recommend making sure that whatever iboga treatment program you choose follows these procedures. Any clinic that is willing to put your well-being at risk by ignoring established clinical guidelines doesn’t deserve your trust or your business!
2) Keeping it Legal
Iboga is a psychoactive substance, and as a result, it is illegal in many jurisdictions where it is wrongly regarded as a drug with potential for abuse. If you’ve decided that you want to free yourself from addiction and start a healthy and productive future, the last thing you want is to risk possible prosecution and incarceration. Iboga treatment is completely illegal in a number of countries, including the USA, France, Italy, and the UK. We would strongly recommend that you seek treatment in a country where clinics are free to operate, as you will almost certainly receive a higher level of care, from professionals rather than amateurs operating in a black market. It is also worth considering that a treatment center which is operating illegally might be reluctant to call an ambulance or rush you to a hospital should something go awry during your ibogaine treatment experience.
3) What else is on offer?
If you’re using iboga to break free from addiction to a substance of abuse, you’ll have a window of approximately 6 months of freedom from cravings. If you’re using iboga to treat mental illness or pursue personal growth, iboga’s effects on your central nervous system will be most pronounced in the period immediately following treatment. In both cases, you have a crucial window of time following your iboga experience where your mind and body will be extremely receptive to making positive changes and developing healthy habits.
Therefore, you need to find a treatment center that allows you to hit the ground running when iboga’s effects wear off. If you want to focus on traditional drug counseling, talk therapy, or CBT, find a center that provides those options. If you think yoga, mindfulness training, or art therapy would work better for you, explore treatment centers that offer alternative treatment modalities. You are the only person who knows the type of future you hope to build for yourself. You know what therapies you will respond to. Explore your own motivations, desires and needs, then look for an iboga provider who can give you what you need.
4) Environment is Everything
Your iboga experience will be an incredibly intense 8-12 hour journey through your past, your subconscious, and your deepest self. You will probably find yourself face to face with traumatic experiences from your past, and with the reality of who you are and what your life has become. A great deal of your time pre-and post-treatment will be spent preparing yourself for this, and recovering from it, so it is essential to find a clinic that offers you a peaceful and relaxing environment, with all of the amenities you find essential for your comfort. A friendly staff, a clean room, exercise facilities, nutritious food, pools, hot tubs, privacy, and beautiful natural settings can ensure that you have a positive experience, as well as speeding up the recovery process and putting you in the right mindset for beginning your new life.
5) Aftercare Matters
Creating and following a detailed plan for maintaining sobriety has been proven to profoundly affect treatment outcomes. Arming yourself with a solid plan for dealing with life after addiction will be a key factor in making iboga therapy work in the long-term. A center that can help you design and execute your blueprint for success, provide effective post-treatment aid and counselling, and help you make connections with the support network you’ll need to build a new life is a must. Whether you draw support from peers or professionals, you’ll find that fellowship makes you stronger, and we recommend that everyone join a peer support group, whether Smart Recovery, a traditional 12 Step Program, or another alternative. At Iboga Tree Healing House we also offer a weekly online aftercare program known as The IRM - Ibogaine Recovery Movement, which allows up to 8 former clients to meet once a week and share their experiences, trials, and triumphs. Those who have already undertaken the iboga journey will be able to offer you insights and advice that will prove invaluable.
Choose Wisely
If you’re going to use iboga, you are putting your life in the hands of the clinic you choose. No matter how desperate you are to get help with addiction or mental health issues, we implore you to put in the time and energy necessary for finding a responsible, professional clinic that meets your needs. If you have any questions about our methods, facilities, or programs, don’t hesitate to get in touch today!
12th February 2020 • Sticky Post
Making the Most of Addiction Treatment: 8 Things to Remember
Everyone who enters an addiction treatment program with the goal of ending their addiction and reclaiming their life should be congratulated. But evidence has shown us that certain methods, practices, and behaviors can greatly influence your chance of success in recovery. An inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment program is an excellent first step, but it is only one step on a long journey toward reclaiming your life and finding fulfillment. Today we’ll be taking a look at what you can do to get the most out of your addiction treatment experience and pave the way toward recovery that lasts.
1) Stay Openminded
Never lose sight of the fact that your previous attitudes, thought patterns, decisions, and behaviors have led you to addiction treatment. You’re in treatment because you’ve recognized that the time has come for dramatic changes in your life. One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself at the beginning of treatment is an open mind. There are myriad options that are available for healing yourself. 12 Step Programs, SMART Recovery, traditional psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, iboga, yoga, exercise, mindfulness, ayahuasca, nutritional therapy, art, music, abstinence, medication, and family support have all helped thousands battle their addictions, and there are even more treatment options out there.
Effective treatment isn’t one size fits all, and everyone entering the process should look at every option before choosing the method they think will meet their individual needs. It’s also important to remind yourself that you are looking to make a drastic change in your life. You’ll need to step outside of your comfort zone and confront painful memories, physical and mental challenges, and learned behaviors. Being uncomfortable and experimenting with new ways of thinking and living is going to be part of the recovery process.
2) Ask For Help
For every addict who has “gone cold turkey”, there are thousands who have relied on peer support, sponsors, family members, friends, and recovery professionals. There is absolutely no shame in needing support and guidance in rehab. The people around you in treatment have been through these wars, and they’ll be happy to share what they’ve learned with you. Remember that 12 Step programs view themselves as “we” programs, meaning that together, their members can do what no individual member could manage alone. We think this is a beautiful message for the entire recovery community. All of us are in the same boat, and we’re all here to help.
3) Honesty Matters
Addiction forces every addict to become a habitual liar. Addicts lie to themselves even more than to their co-workers or loved ones, telling themselves that they’re in control, that they’re about to cut back or stop, that they’re okay. Entering treatment is an act of breathtaking honesty, a necessary admission that you’ve become powerless, and a commitment to change your life. But old habits die hard, and the shame of admitting that you still crave a substance, or that you are feeling emotionally overwhelmed and anxious as you begin to rebuild your life can result in a return to dishonesty. Finding someone you can be completely honest with, and sharing every struggle and craving you experience can be hugely beneficial. Keeping a journal in order to explore all of your thoughts, feelings, and struggles with a clear eye is also massively helpful. Dishonesty will likely isolate you from your peers, cause you to feel ashamed, and push you toward “emotional relapse.” Honesty will allow you to get the help you need, and create the foundation for true healing.
4) Family Matters, Too
Family support is quickly becoming a cornerstone of treatment at many recovery centers. A sense of isolation is an extremely common side-effect of addiction, and involving loved ones in recovery can be a significant counterweight to that debilitating feeling, motivating addicts to rebuild meaningful bonds of love. In addition to the sentimental argument, medical studies have shown that perceived social and emotional support from loved ones leads to better treatment outcomes. Sharing your struggles and triumphs with the people you love provides powerful motivation and support to those in rehab.
5) Listen Up
This sounds simple. It is simple. But it’s also shocking how often we remain deep in our own thoughts while others try to communicate with us. Truly focusing on what other people try to share with us allows us to build meaningful connections. It also means that we’ll be taking their advice to heart. Remember, you came to rehab to look for answers. When others try to help you find them, the least you can do is give them your undivided attention.
6) Give Addiction Treatment Your All
In treatment, you are trying to change the thought patterns, physiological changes, and behaviors that have developed over years or even decades of addiction. If you think that this can be accomplished easily, you’re wrong. It isn’t a straightforward process, and it will demand a tremendous physical and mental effort. To succeed, you’ll need to enter rehab prepared to work hard, and ready to confront parts of yourself that you’ve been avoiding. If you’re breezing through the process, it means you’re doing it wrong. Treatment requires confronting pain, trauma, and your worst self. The good news is, it’s worth the struggle!
7) Addiction Stays With You After Treatment
Medical evidence shows that “continuing care” beyond the initial phase of treatment yields significant benefits for those in recovery. You should work with your treatment provider to create an aftercare plan that works for you. This doesn’t mean just going to peer support meetings. It could mean therapy, whether traditional or CBT. It could mean continuing daily yoga or mindfulness practice. Aftercare could be as simple as defining your core values and aspirations for life and building a system of rewards for making progress towards your goals. As with choosing a rehab center, creating the right aftercare plan for yourself depends on your personality and individual needs. But continuing the daily practices you adopt in treatment, whether meditation, meetings, prayer yoga, journaling, or simply going for a walk and making your bed, is highly recommended for creating positive patterns of behavior.
8) Reach Out And Help Others
The “we” idea discussed earlier is a beautiful way to view rehab. Virtually no one overcomes addiction by themselves. Taking the lessons you’ve learned from your experience and sharing them with those in need is a wonderful way to find meaning in your own life, and a constant reminder of the devastating toll addiction takes on individuals and society. By helping others battle addiction, you’re helping yourself and creating a better world. We can’t recommend it highly enough.
If you’re interested in putting this advice to work and think ibogaine treatment is something you’d like to explore, don't hesitate to get in touch with Iboga Tree Healing House today!
26th September 2019 • Sticky Post
Iboga Therapy and Why It Works
A burgeoning movement is underway, pushing the benefits that so-called “plant teachers” like iboga, ayahuasca, and psilocybin can offer individuals suffering from ailments ranging from addiction to depression, PTSD, and anxiety into the mainstream. As these remarkable substances have come to the attention of notable thinkers and writers such as Tim Ferriss, Michael Pollan, and Dr. Gabor Mate, it seems like they are about to burst into the popular consciousness and finally be recognized as the powerful medicines they are, escaping the stigma of the “drug” label they’ve borne for decades. As society begins to recognize the immense potential of these plants to induce positive change, let’s take a look at how iboga treatment has helped transform thousands of lives.
Iboga Therapy For Addiction
We’ve written before about exactly how iboga therapy works for those battling addiction. Iboga therapy is particularly effective in treating opiates and opioids because it acts as an opioid antagonist. This means that the substance creates molecules which bind with opioid receptors in the central nervous system, and interact with serotonin and dopamine receptors in the brain. This causes a pronounced reduction in withdrawal symptoms and disrupts cravings for this family of drugs. It also is believed to return addicts to a “pre-addicted state,” meaning that Iboga can return your tolerance to novice user levels, and offer you a 3-6 month window where you probably won’t have a desire to use or abuse opiates or opioids.
Iboga therapy has also proved beneficial in treating a variety of other addictive behaviors. Studies have shown that iboga can similarly reduce cravings for alcohol and stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. It also offers the benefit of opening the addicted mind to the possibility of a dramatic lifestyle change, and offering renewed connections to one’s community and one’s true self. The aforementioned Dr. Mate recommends substances like ayahuasca and iboga for their unique abilities to help the addicted acknowledge and come to terms with past traumas that have led them into the addicted state. He notes that once we learn to cope with our psychic wounds, “we are free to connect with others without fear and reclaim the community for which addiction served as a substitution.”
While we would urge caution on those promoting iboga therapy as a miracle cure for drug addiction, we have seen first-hand what it can do. Iboga acts as an “addiction interrupter,” which frees the addict from debilitating withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and allows them a window of time to work on transforming their self-destructive thoughts and behaviors into healthy and positive patterns. Iboga isn’t a magic bullet that will destroy your addiction, but it can give you time to begin a sober life, and build the skills, support network, self-discipline, and habits that will enable you to live your best life!
Iboga therapy For Trauma and Other Psychological Disorders
In addition to its utility in fighting addiction, iboga has proven itself to be a valuable tool in treating PTSD and other psychological disorders. According to Dr. C.M. Anderson of the Harvard Medical School, “Iboga works through multiple neurotransmitter systems to create.. (a) state of plasticity similar to states of plasticity existing during fetal development. This critical brain state may facilitate the consolidation of traumatic memories, reversal of abnormal hemispheric functions, and the dissolution of habitual motor patterns associated with addiction.” In other words, the substance creates conditions in the brain which are ideal for working through the psychic pain at the root of many psychological disorders.
An iboga experience often involves a vivid and intense period of re-experiencing one’s past, followed by several hours of introspection and reflection. Many of those who’ve experienced iboga therapy find that confronting and acknowledging past trauma allows them to address the scars which have led to depression, anxiety, and trauma. Large numbers of patients who’ve undergone iboga therpay have noted that facing their demons has let them feel powerful enough to acknowledge and live with their pain, and that this realization has been a profoundly freeing experience. One user credits a visionary experience with leading him to the realization “that every emotion is as valid as any other… it was okay to have negative thoughts. That’s life. For me, trying to resist emotions just amplified them. Once I was in this state, it was beautiful—a feeling of deep contentment.”
Researchers have found that many sufferers of depression describe their affliction as first and foremost “a state of disconnection,” whether from other people, their earlier selves, their senses and feelings, their core beliefs and spiritual values, or nature. Iboga and other oneirogenics and psychedelics have demonstrated the ability to reconnect these patients to the world around them. Many liken their experiences with these remarkable plants to breaking out of a prison in which they’d been trapped.
Changing Lives and Opening Minds
Psychological disorders and addiction can both engender a sense of hopelessness. All of these afflictions create a mental atmosphere in which the idea of recovery or change appears impossible. One of the greatest benefits that iboga therapy offers is a ray of hope. Plant teachers can shake up chronically negative thought patterns, and allow the patient to see themselves in a new light: as an individual with the power to enact dramatic change in their own life. As Dr. Mate writes of Ayahuasca, “The documented unity of mind and body means that… experiential transformation… can powerfully affect the hormonal apparatus, the nervous and immune systems, and all organs such as the brain, the gut, and the heart. Hence the healing potential of the plant, seen through the lens of Western science.”
If you’re interested in experiencing the healing potential of Iboga therapy, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Iboga Tree Healing House today!
8th August 2019
5 Trends Changing Addiction Treatment in 2019
Technology, ease of travel, and a willingness to embrace new methodologies and techniques are making addiction treatment more effective than ever. Let’s take a look at 5 trends shaking up the treatment industry in 2019...
1) Addiction Treatment Abroad
This is a topic near to our hearts. We’ve discussed it before in more detail. The short version is, seeking treatment abroad can offer better value for money and lower wait times, as prices and demand soar on account of the ongoing opioid crisis. Treatment abroad can also offer better opportunities for a fresh start, away from the stresses, triggers, and environments that can reinforce negative habits and behaviors. Going abroad also offers a greater sense of privacy for those who’d rather deal with their addiction away from the prying eyes of colleagues, relatives, and acquaintances. It also can allow for access to treatments, medications, and alternative therapies that are not yet legal in the US and UK, such as iboga. With high-end American centers such as Passages Malibu charging as much as $65,000 per month, it’s no wonder that those seeking treatment are looking at addiction treatment abroad to find a similar standard of care at a dramatically reduced price.
2) Emerging Alternatives
The 12 Step model has helped millions of people with substance abuse disorders treat their affliction. But it, and other abstinence-based treatment models don’t work for everyone. American Addiction Centers’ resource guide lists a host of techniques that can help, including equine-assisted therapy, biofeedback, and yoga and mindfulness training. As they write, holistic therapies “offer a more comprehensive approach” that heals on “mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual” levels, “increasing the chances for success and reduc[ing] the risk of relapse.”
Treatments that include psychedelics such as ayahuasca or psilocybin, or other psychoactive substances like Iboga have also been rapidly gaining in popularity. Psychoactive substances can have profound positive effects on those in recovery, ranging from minimizing withdrawal symptoms and cravings to resetting crucial neural functions to pre-addicted levels. They can also open the door to psychological healing by inducing reflection and insights on the behaviors and traumas that have led an individual into addiction.
3) Harm Reduction
Portugal is a worldwide leader in embracing harm reduction to deal with addiction. The country decriminalized all drugs in 2001 and has since seen dramatic decreases in overdoses, the spread of HIV, and drug-related crimes. But harm reduction isn’t just legalization. If you’re unclear on the concept, according to the Harm Reduction Coalition, it is a belief in finding ways to eliminate as many of the negative consequences of drug use as possible for both individuals and societies. It is also a move to recognize and advocate for, the human rights of drug users.
As more and more jurisdictions explore legalization of drugs, needle exchanges, supervised injection sites, and creative ways to minimize the monetary and human costs of drug abuse, people seem to finally be waking up to the fact that incarceration, criminalization, and de-humanization of addicts is counter-productive in every way. We expect more people, countries, and courts to open their minds to finding more efficient, compassionate, and intelligent ways to deal with addiction. In 2018 the UN Human Rights Council declared human rights to be “central to the development and evaluation of any drug policy”, calling for a “comprehensive, balanced, and health-centered approach to drugs.” We would expect the momentum for dealing with addiction as a health issue, rather than prosecuting it as a crime, to grow exponentially in the coming year.
4) Involving the Family
Addiction clearly doesn’t just affect the addict, it touches the lives of everyone close to them. And treatment providers are finally starting to recognize the need to address the family as a crucial part of the rehabilitation process. While Al-Anon and Nar-Anon have been popular for years, evidence is beginning to emerge which illustrates how involving the family in recovery can have substantial benefits. Providers like Recovery Centers of America are implementing programs to contact families upon intake, brief them on what to expect as treatment begins, and facilitate family therapy sessions within the first week of treatment.
Particularly for young addicts, the family can be a source of strength and support, or a cause of stress, trauma, and anxiety. Offering tools and resources for family members to become actively involved in the recovery of their loved ones can make a substantial difference in addiction treatment outcomes. We expect to see increasing numbers of treatment centers offer more opportunities for families and friends to get involved in the process of healing!
5) CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is becoming increasingly popular in treating mental health disorders, and it can greatly improve treatment outcomes for the addicted. Unlike traditional psychotherapy, CBT is far more focused on solutions than delving into problems. Fundamentally, it pushes the patient to challenge distorted perceptions and patterns of thought, thus changing destructive patterns of behavior. This article from “Psychology Today” gives a quick outline of how the treatment works.
In addiction treatment, advocates of CBT would argue that harmful behaviors are the result of thoughts and emotions that are neither realistic or rational. These “automatic thoughts” are generally negative in people who suffer from depression and anxiety disorders, problems commonly co-occurring with addiction. CBT can help addicts to recognize and dismiss the false beliefs and insecurities which cause irrational negative thinking. It can also help patients improve communication skills, learn to regulate their moods, and deal with substance abuse triggers. CBT has been proven to help break toxic cycles of thought and behavior, and it can be a godsend for those suffering from addiction.
A New Path to Addiction Recovery...
As you can see, our understanding of addiction has grown a lot over the past few years. As we learn to view addiction as a health problem and increase our understanding of its impact on the brain, we are becoming better equipped to treat it effectively. At Iboga Tree Healing House, we are committed to fearlessly exploring every avenue that leads to effective addiction treatment, and we’re excited about each of these trends. We are also excited about the adjunct therapies like Kundalini Yoga, equine-assisted therapy, sound therapy, breathing, bodywork, that make up a robust, holistic, and long-term recovery plan. The benefits these can all offer to those seeking relief from addiction cannot be overstated.
