Is Holistic Drug Detox Right for Me?

While drug detox programs all work towards helping addicts recover from addiction, different types of programs go about reaching this goal in different ways. Traditional drug detox uses evidenced-based treatment approaches, which focus on treating the physical and psychological effects of addiction. While effective, this line of treatment can be limited in terms of treating just the addiction as opposed to taking a “whole person” treatment approach. Holistic drug detox programs pick up traditional approaches leave off, treating the spiritual part of the individual as well as the physical and psychological effects of addiction. Ultimately, whether holistic drug detox is right for you depends on your drug treatment history as well as your personal preference.

Holistic Drug Detox Components

Meditation-based practices are used at holistic drug detox facilities.

During the detox stage, the body must go from a drug dependent state to functioning on its own. In effect, the withdrawal symptoms experienced represent a severe state of imbalance that affects the body, mind and spirit of the individual. Holistic drug detox employs a range of treatment interventions, all of which work to restore balance to the whole person as well as treat the physical and psychological effects of addiction.

According to the National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health, treatment interventions commonly used in holistic drug detox include:

• Medication therapies
• Psychotherapy
• Drug education
• Energy balancing
• Vitamin/mineral/herbal therapies
• Diet planning
• Meditation-based practices
• Mind-body routines, such as yoga

Questions to Ask

Have I Tried to Stop Using On My Own and Failed?

While it is possible for you to try a more spiritual-based approach to detox on your own, if you’ve already tried to stop using drugs and failed, trying a holistic approach without needed treatment supports in place will likely breed the same results.

Being unable to stop drug use in spite of the problems it’s caused in your day-to-day life is a clear indicator of addiction. Holistic drug detox treatment not only employs a comprehensive approach, but also provides round-the-clock monitoring and emotional support along the way.

Have I Already Tried Traditional Drug Detox and Had Little to No Success?

Once addiction takes hold, it’s not uncommon for a person to go through two or more rounds of drug treatment before seeing any real results. While traditional drug detox programs can be effective, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t always work for everyone.

For some people, the more spirit-oriented interventions used in holistic drug detox provide the missing treatment component that gets them through the detox stage.

Do I Need a More Spiritually Based Treatment Approach?

The effects of drug addiction can wreak havoc on a person’s emotional well-being, diminishing a person’s sense of self and zest for life over time. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, many who fall into drug abuse and addiction have gone through emotional trauma and even abuse in the past.

In effect, the degree of spirit or soul damage done can be considerable, both before and after drugs enter the picture. Under these conditions, a holistic drug detox approach may be of great benefit in helping you get to the root of an addiction problem.

If you or someone you know are considering holistic drug detox and have more questions, or need help finding treatment that meets your needs, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 800-996-6135(Who Answers?) to speak with one of our addictions specialists.

Sources

1. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2016). Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What’s In a Name?
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (1998). Exploring the Role of Child Abuse in Later Drug Abuse.