Addiction recovery is an ever-changing field, as new developments and scientific studies continuously alter the effectiveness of reliable support measures. Pair that with policy regulations that dictate behavior patterns for those with substance use disorders (SUDs), and it makes sense why addiction therapy trends change yearly. There’s no clear-cut answer for addiction recovery; everyone’s situation varies, and everyone heals at their own pace.
MAT Care Clinics is well aware of the volatile nature of addiction recovery. Nothing is absolute when overcoming a substance use disorder, and there will always be room for improvement regarding reliable treatment methods. To ensure you have all the resources and information you need for a healthy and sustainable recovery, check out these addiction therapy trends that have made their presence known in 2023.
Addiction Therapy Trend #1: Holistic Wellness
When analyzing the various addiction therapy trends, an important notion to remember is the factors contributing to an individual developing an SUD. There’s no denying that drugs can be independently addictive, but the reasons for someone turning to these substances are anything but set in stone. Addressing the root causes and factors of substance use disorders is the focal point of our first addiction therapy trend: holistic wellness.
Holism derives from the concept that an interconnection exists within all things. A holistic approach to an idea means focusing on the whole picture, not just one piece of the puzzle. In terms of holistic wellness for addiction therapy, this concept focuses on the factors that contribute to substance use – how all of these factors, influences, pre-existing mental health conditions, and other life choices form together to create the basis of why someone would turn to drugs.
So, what factors interconnect to form a dependency on drugs or alcohol? Let’s start with environmental factors such as a challenging home or family life, peer pressure, social and economic inequalities, lack of access to resources, and exposure to trauma or violence, among many other avenues of life. When these pair with mental health factors such as stress, depression, PTSD, and anxiety, many people turn to drugs as a form of “self-medication” from these challenging situations. It then makes sense why, in most cases, the root cause of addiction isn’t a desire to use the substance but rather a mental or environmental trigger that leads to compulsion as a means of escape.
Holistic wellness makes its mark by promoting healthy living methods to alleviate these factors. Some general ways individuals can achieve this are through:
- Maintaining a healthy relationship with family and friends
- Feeling supported and respected
- Getting proper sleep
- Having a good diet
- Exercising regularly
Any activity or thought pattern that reduces stress, anxiety, and other mental health conditions offers a way to restructure and provide a daily purpose. Sober living doesn’t have to be a drag, and by utilizing these beneficial ideologies, you can diminish the factors that may contribute to drug use.
Addiction Therapy Trend #2: Harm Reduction
Over the last decade, the world has changed how it views drug addiction. Rather than offering no mercy to those with SUDs, a new addiction therapy trend has blossomed in the form of harm reduction. As the name implies, this trend recognizes that drug use is inevitable and hopes to diminish the damage that substance use can do to an individual. A good example of a non-drug related harm reduction method is supplying free condoms to avoid the spread of STDs or unwanted pregnancies.
There are many ways to incorporate this addiction therapy trend. One of the strongest methods is providing clean needles to addicts to avoid contracting various conditions and transmitted diseases. While this doesn’t particularly solve a person’s addiction problem, it provides them with an extension of hope and potential recovery. Many pharmacies, non-profit organizations, and other local services now offer syringe exchange programs to swap out old needles and replace them with sterilized syringes to combat these diseases.
Harm reduction doesn’t end there, however – it applies across the board for several categories of drugs. We’ve seen lock boxes for medication, safer smoking kits, wound care supplies, educational material, local resources, and other methods make their presence known to reduce the overall harm associated with drugs and give people a chance to treat their addiction.
The overarching goal of harm reduction is to provide hope and support for those with SUDs, even if they are not yet ready to seek treatment. Reducing the harm associated with drug use opens up new pathways for recovery and helps people stay safe until they are ready to get help.
Addiction Therapy Trend #3: Individualized Treatment
There will never be a one-size-fits-all approach to addiction therapy. People hold different preferences regarding how they’re treated, whether alone, in a group counseling session, or in a schedule that accommodates other obligations such as family and work. In the past, many addiction treatment programs focused on a single idea, and differing from these approaches often created more problems than solved. Some individuals simply can’t go to rehab for two months, so a plan that fits their needs would be the viable option.
The addiction therapy trend of individualized treatment capitalizes on this concept. Rather than funneling everyone into a single recovery approach, individualized treatment integrates targeted clinical therapies with homeopathic methods. Therapy plans often combine psychotherapy and medication with exercise, counseling, meditation, biofeedback training, and other resources so individuals can feel fully supported with an arsenal of treatments. Therapists can then determine the best course of action for the future and tinker with the comprehensive program to find what works best for each individual.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is another method utilized in individualized treatment. In opioid use disorders (OUD) and alcohol use disorders (AUD), MAT uses various FDA-approved medications to treat addiction while reducing withdrawal symptoms safely. Since some people experience withdrawal symptoms worse than others, finding a means to avoid these dangerous complications is more practical.
Individualized treatment is viable for many because it supports them in their endeavors. People will always be more apt to do something if they 1. enjoy doing it and 2. feel as if it caters to their personal needs and desires. When someone with a substance use disorder has options, it gives them more of a sense of accomplishment when they reach a milestone toward sobriety.
MAT Care Clinics Can Help You Trend in the Right Direction
If you’ve found that other addiction treatment methods don’t cater to your needs or aren’t effective in their approach, MAT Care Clinics can help. We offer medication-assisted treatment to individuals suffering from AUDs and OUDs as a safe and effective option free from setbacks or complicating withdrawal symptoms.
Our individualized approach allows you to receive treatment as you see fit, with various real-life benefits such as:
- Increased chance of prolonged recovery
- Decreased illegal and nefarious activity associated with SUDs
- Increased employment rate
- Improved pregnancy rates for women with SUDs
- Minimal withdrawal symptoms for a more positive mindset
For more information regarding our services or to schedule a free consultation, contact us at (833) 666-0628 or visit our website.
