Try a peer-reviewed, non-12 step, evidence-based treatment approach.
An addiction treatment rehab, whether for alcohol, drugs or some combination thereof, can take many forms. This is partly because everyone’s experience with drug and alcohol addiction differs, which makes a standard, one-size-fits-all approach untenable. In short, what might work for one person’s addiction, might not necessarily work for another’s. The most widely known addiction treatment program, the12 Step program, provides a good case in point, as it certainly helps some people overcome their addiction. Unfortunately, the drop-out rates and relapses are so great that it is no longer considered the primary standard of care for addiction.
Addiction treatment has come a long way since the 12 Step program was developed in the 1930s and today there are dozens upon dozens of treatment programs and therapies that address substance use disorder and addictions. This begs the question as to how to determine whether a specific treatment regimen might work and how effective it might be.
Fortunately, the field of addiction treatment has embraced the scientific method and scientific validation to answer that question.
This has led to what’s known as the peer-reviewed approach to addiction rehabilitation. Also known as “evidence-based” treatment approach, peer-reviewed treatment involves therapies and programs that include the following parameters:
- Have been studied by reputable organizations.
- Methodologies can be consistently duplicated.
- Are clearly defined by guidelines and can be standardized.
- Proven effectiveness has been documented in peer-reviewed research.
- Have not proven harmful to patients.
Note that this reliance on scientific validation helps addiction specialists better tailor approaches on a more individualized basis and helps address related mental health issues—such as trauma, depression, and other disorders—that may be contributing to the addictive behavior. And, for the record, the 12 Step program has been accepted as an evidence-based treatment approach.
Efforts to bolster peer-reviewed treatment approaches are enhanced by the National Institutes of Health, which provide funding for into peer-reviewed research, and by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, which helps disseminate information to promote effective treatments. This increased focus on peer-reviewed treatment is improving the quality of addiction treatment overall and increasing the potential for recovery for those battling addiction.
Addiction treatment therapies that have gained broader acceptance and are being utilized as a result of the peer-reviewed approach include:
Numerous other therapies, such as acupuncture, meditation, mindfulness, and other alternative and holistic therapies, have also received peer-reviewed support as being complementary treatments for addiction. And while there is no one-size-fits-all therapy to address someone’s addiction, treatment specialists have more options than ever for treating addiction on an individual level and a greater understanding of what therapies might work best on a case-by-case basis.
If you or someone you care about, has an ongoing history of alcohol or substance use and/or relapse, contact Gulf Breeze Recovery or call: 833.551.2356 to speak to an addiction expert to learn more about their residential program, out-patient program, and intensive out-patient program, and which of these can best fit your individual needs. These programs have helped many people overcome their addiction and embrace their new happy, healthy, substance-free lifestyle.
We help people not just to survive, but to THRIVE!
