subject: Modern Drug Rehabilitation, The Holistic Methodology [print this page] The methods used in the field of medicine have changed quite a bit since 60 years ago. The technology has advanced by leaps and bonds and some methods agreed upon by the professionals of the time are now frowned upon by today's specialists.
The field of drug and alcohol rehabilitation is no stranger of technological advancement. In the 1950's certain methods used to "care" for the addicts was, to the eyes of the modern rehabilitation center personnel, quite barbaric: depravation of water and food, beating, chock treatment, electroshocks. As the underlying reasons for addiction became known, effective methods of treatment were researched and put to the test. As results of more reliable techniques brought more and more positive long time recovery, gradually the old methods ceased to be used. There have been major changes since the 1960's and there are methods used in the 1970's and 80's, which have since been found antiquated.
Treatment using substitution drugs such as methadone has been proven rather ineffective in the long run. Also, for quite sometime now, addiction is not seen as a disease but a disorder, which the individual can do something about and permanently get rid of. The assertion that addiction is a disease declares the addict at total effect and that he has to accept the fact he will be an addict the rest of his life - this attitude has been what makes some rehabilitation centers not as successful as others.
One of the best options for an addict seeking help through a drug rehab center is a holistic rehab center. In this day and age the holistic rehab centers tend to offer some of the most effective solutions by using only natural methods to treat all aspects of the addict touched by the addiction problem, namely: body, mind and spirit. As a matter of fact the holistic rehab centers do not only detox the body of the addict but help the individual to find out what emotional situation caused him to start drugs and alcohol abuse in the first place and give him tools to resolve this initial situation without the use of adverse substances. There are no electroshocks, beatings, drugs, barbed wires and the approach used in order to cure the addict is absolutely tranquil and easy going. The programs in a holistic rehab center is centered around useful activities that will keep the addicts mind off taking drugs and focus instead on a healthy and rewarding life.
The methods used in holistic rehab centers can be seen as weird and beyond established procedures by some radicals. These people do not understand what addiction is and would prefer to use ancient methods to keep addicts controlled and out of the way, like it is done with criminals.
Because the staff at a holistic rehab center truly understand what addiction is and how to resolve it, they do not use methods which control the addicts but rather give them assistance to understand what is going on and give them tools so they take full control of their own life, naturally.
