Alcohol and Drug Rehab Programs Improve the Odds of Abstinence After Addiction Treatment Recovery
Alcohol and drug rehab programs and substance abuse treatment centers have a primary goal; to prevent a client from leaving rehab against medical advice.
There is very good reason for this concern, because if they can't keep a client in treatment, then they can't help them begin the process of addiction recovery.
Many leading alcohol and substance abuse treatment centers now have services that help treat underlying issues, called comorbidities, and do not just focus solely on addiction recovery.
Why? These underlying issues can become obstacles to addiction recovery.
For example, it is very difficult for a client to sit through an individual, group or 12-step meeting if he or she is experiencing frequent anxiety attacks.
Helping to heal these underlying issues frees the newly sober to be more present for the drug rehab program.
One of the evidence-based services these substance abuse treatment centers are incorporating is neurofeedback, also known as, EEG biofeedback or neurotherapy.
Neurofeedback been found to reduce anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, insomnia, headaches and other issues that commonly afflict addicts, and consequently distracts from the recovery process.
Sometimes an underlying issue can be traced back to the origins of an addiction such as using speed to compensate for having attentional problems.
ADD typically goes hand in hand with an under aroused brain.
This is the reason why stimulants such as Ritalin, Strattera and Concerta are prescribed.
There is a fMRI study that validates the efficacy of EEG biofeedback as alternative to methylphenidate (prescribed stimulants); in a rehab center the latter would be a preferable solution for the obvious reasons.
Getting sober is stressful.
Unfortunately, the very parts of the brain that allow reasoned response are bypassed under stressful conditions.
Instead, we make decisions based on fear.
This is particularly pronounced in the early stages of recovery and sabotages an addict's ability to take in and apply the solutions learned in rehab.
Neurofeedback, specifically a protocol called alpha-theta, helps to evolve the reactive brain into one that is interactive.
It works by training the cortex to remain engaged and not be bypassed as usual during a fight-or-flight reaction.
The result is improved retention in rehab, abstinence, and continued 12-step participation after leaving treatment.
A UCLA addiction study of 121 volunteers demonstrated that neurofeedback enhanced Treatment Center retention, variables of attention, and abstinence rates one year following treatment.
This UCLA study has been successfully replicated by other research teams.
There is very good reason for this concern, because if they can't keep a client in treatment, then they can't help them begin the process of addiction recovery.
Many leading alcohol and substance abuse treatment centers now have services that help treat underlying issues, called comorbidities, and do not just focus solely on addiction recovery.
Why? These underlying issues can become obstacles to addiction recovery.
For example, it is very difficult for a client to sit through an individual, group or 12-step meeting if he or she is experiencing frequent anxiety attacks.
Helping to heal these underlying issues frees the newly sober to be more present for the drug rehab program.
One of the evidence-based services these substance abuse treatment centers are incorporating is neurofeedback, also known as, EEG biofeedback or neurotherapy.
Neurofeedback been found to reduce anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, insomnia, headaches and other issues that commonly afflict addicts, and consequently distracts from the recovery process.
Sometimes an underlying issue can be traced back to the origins of an addiction such as using speed to compensate for having attentional problems.
ADD typically goes hand in hand with an under aroused brain.
This is the reason why stimulants such as Ritalin, Strattera and Concerta are prescribed.
There is a fMRI study that validates the efficacy of EEG biofeedback as alternative to methylphenidate (prescribed stimulants); in a rehab center the latter would be a preferable solution for the obvious reasons.
Getting sober is stressful.
Unfortunately, the very parts of the brain that allow reasoned response are bypassed under stressful conditions.
Instead, we make decisions based on fear.
This is particularly pronounced in the early stages of recovery and sabotages an addict's ability to take in and apply the solutions learned in rehab.
Neurofeedback, specifically a protocol called alpha-theta, helps to evolve the reactive brain into one that is interactive.
It works by training the cortex to remain engaged and not be bypassed as usual during a fight-or-flight reaction.
The result is improved retention in rehab, abstinence, and continued 12-step participation after leaving treatment.
A UCLA addiction study of 121 volunteers demonstrated that neurofeedback enhanced Treatment Center retention, variables of attention, and abstinence rates one year following treatment.
This UCLA study has been successfully replicated by other research teams.
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