Holiday Addiction Treatment Scams

This is a guest post by Joe Herzanek, founder of Changing Lives Foundation, addiction counselor and author of the recent book “Why Don’t They Just Quit?“.

The holidays are even more stressful for families struggling with an addicted loved one.

Why?

Because most of us realize that family gatherings are both special and important. These are times when most of us will go out of our way to say “I love you”.

The warning I’m speaking about refers to a select few organizations who try to take advantage of hurting people. You may have noticed several recent TV and radio ads touting various “addiction cures.”

There is a solution and a way to manage addiction–but there is NO CURE. Beware of anyone who tells you otherwise. It saddens me to know that there are hurting families who are even more emotionally and financially drained–by false claims.

Please know that alcoholism and drug addiction are manageable problems.

There is hope. And many, many people begin the journey called recovery every day.

What are alternative treatments for recovery, and do they work?

What is meant by alternative treatment? This refers to an alternative to what appears to be the standard or most effective treatment. Some are controversial and will not be helpful for everyone.

Diet

One alternative is a change in diet. Some people believe that eating certain foods and vitamins may help them to end their addiction. I do believe that good nutrition plays an important role in recovery. Our bodies need nutritious food, exercise and proper rest. Certain foods may even help alleviate some of the craving. Can they help one to facilitate recovery? Absolutely. But will nutrition, a special diet, or supplements end addiction and ensure successful recovery? I don’t think so.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is another treatment that  can offer some positive results. For anyone not familiar with acupuncture, it is an Eastern treatment in which small needles are used to pierce the body at points where the flow of energy is thought to be blocked. The end result is supposed to restore energetic balance and create improved organ function. Clinical studies of this treatment are unable to verify positive results for ending addiction, although it does appear to offer some relief for a few people.

Saunas and Vitamins

As wonderful as saunas and vitamins may be, to help you feel good (at least in the short term), they will not cure addiction. There are a few groups that would like you to believe otherwise.

Ibogaine

Ibogaine treatment is another option that has yet to be proven to work. Ibogaine comes from an African plant that when ingested causes a hallucinogenic effect similar to peyote, an herb that some Native Americans use in spiritual ceremonies. Ibogaine has long been used in shamanic rituals of initiation and spiritual quests. It is said to help cure addictions of all kinds. However, some people have found using Ibogaine to be a terrifying experience. The FDA has not approved this drug, so it is illegal in the United States, but one can find it being used in clinics in Mexico.

Meditation

One more popular alternative is the practice of meditation. Meditation can mean different things to different people. Some see it as part of their religious experience. To sit, be still, and take a mental break from our fast-paced lives is a good idea for anyone. Time to stop and reflect on what’s really important can help people make better life choices. Is it going to end addiction for the person who has spent years or decades consumed with drugs and alcohol? Not likely. Will it convince the hardcore meth or heroin addict to abstain from using? Don’t count on it. However, it may very well be a healthy activity for a person in recovery. I believe our prayer life can be similar to a two-way conversation with God. We pray and then we listen.

Televangelism

Some might even consider late-night religious programming as an alternative treatment. Certain TV personalities would like you to think so. You may have clicked onto a program where a televangelist is promising a miracle healing. Often this healing will require sending a “love offering” to the host of the show. Can God do miracles still today? I believe He can and does, but are you going to get your miracle cure over the airwaves? Don’t count on it. Finding a local faith community to attend would be much more beneficial.

Other Alternatives

There are other alternatives, from yoga, amino acid drips, hypnosis, art therapy, psychodrama, equine therapy, guided meditation–to subscribing to an online self-recovery system–even blogging your way toward recovery. However, I think you probably get the gist of what I want to emphasize in this chapter: Be wary of quick-fix gimmicks that promise an easy recovery. In fact, I would suggest that you be very leery of anyone claiming to have a cure or anyone who even uses the words “cure” and “addiction” in the same sentence. Those who claim these “treatments” to be a cure are either uninformed or have something to sell you. Recovery is going to take time and effort.

Being successful at anything worthwhile requires commitment and persistence. The most effective form of treatment is a combination of education about addiction and what people in recovery call “talk therapy”(conversations with groups, counselors, and others in varying stages of recovery). Most if not all of the alternative solutions mentioned above do not focus on either of these two components.

Families and concerned friends should be aware that none of these alternative remedies will result in recovery if they are used as “stand alone” treatments. However, having said that–when combined with education, prayer and talk therapy, some of these alternatives may be helpful.

I know a young woman, Megan, who tried a combination of exercise and nutrition for years. After several relapses, she finally started attending some recovery groups and getting counseling. She has now been sober for over five years. Nutrition and exercise are still a big part of her life. However, having a support group and some friends in recovery has been the key to her success. She admitted to me later that her fear of people kept her away from what she now knows she needed the most.

Often, a friend or family member will tell me that a dependent person they know has already tried a certain recovery group, but didn’t like going. But my answer will often be, “So what?” Life sometimes requires that we do things we don’t like to do. Alcoholics or addicts are not always the best ones to decide what is the most effective treatment program for them. They are where they are because their decision-making process has malfunctioned. Now may be the time for someone else to tell them what’s best for them, even if it involves a long-term commitment to something they may, at first, find unpleasant.

There are no shortcuts to restoring a life.

This article excerpted from Chapter 23 of “Why Don’t They Just Quit? What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery” by Author/Addiction Professional Joe Herzanek

What are your thoughts about this article? Please let us know in comments.