Biochemical restoration is the “missing link” to
why traditional treatment for addiction is ineffective.
by Joe Eisele, CACIII, NCAC - Clinical
Director
Long-term sobriety is the
ultimate goal of addiction treatment, but high rates of relapse show
that talk therapy alone is
not enough. Traditional addiction treatment primarily originates from
the Minnesota Model developed during the late 1940’s and has
remained relatively unchanged over the past decades. The cornerstone
of the model relies primarily on talk therapy and that addictive behavior
is the result of psychological dependencies which cause a person to
rely on drugs and alcohol. The belief is that addiction is the sole
result of mental needs. However, current research is supporting that
those suffering from addiction have chemical imbalances that lead to
physiological differences. As we learn more about the types of chemical
imbalances that lead to addictive behavior, we are able to address
them through natural means.
InnerBalance Health Center in Northern Colorado along with other similar
types of treatment facilities are achieving outstanding success. This
contrasts sharply with the traditional treatment success rates of approximately
20 percent. In a commonly cited study, Vaillant (1983) conducted a
long-term research project following a cohort of alcoholics and concluded
that only 19 percent of the alcoholics abstained from alcohol after
a one year period and a dismal 5 percent abstained after 8 years. Another
study by Walsh et al. (1991) found that 23 percent of the alcoholics
studied reported abstaining after two years. Numerous studies report
similar results which leads one to wonder why abstinence rates are
so low and why treatment methods have not evolved to continually improve
upon existing techniques and treatment effectiveness. Clearly, there
is room for improvement.
Only recently have researchers begun to explore
a more holistic approach to the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse.
Biochemical Repair has
been identified as the “missing link” in successful addiction
treatment. Researchers have found that a number of genetic factors,
nutritional deficiencies and medical conditions contribute to the physical
and psychological drive to self-medicate using drugs and alcohol. Over
the last seven years 98% of the alcoholics at InnerBalance have been
tested positive for hypoglycemia coming primarily from a poor diet
and the overuse of sugar and simple carbohydrates. If a person does
not correct this, they can have anywhere from some to several to all
of the 64 symptoms of hypoglycemia—including depression, dizziness
and fatigue--eventually making it very difficult to stay sober. Traditional
addiction treatment focuses solely on the psychological and emotion
issues leading to drug and alcohol use. Talk therapy is a very important
component in recovery but it is ineffective as a single treatment strategy.
Likewise, just managing the biochemical portion alone is ineffective
and does not equip a person with the mental tools and lifestyle improvements
to maintain sobriety. However, this synergy of biochemical repair and
talk therapy has resulted in tremendous success among addicted individuals.
For long term success, nutritional and fitness counseling is also included
in a comprehensive treatment program. Individuals are more likely to
develop an addiction, or return to drugs and alcohol, if they suffer
from underlying physiological imbalances. Rather than correct these
imbalances with pharmaceuticals, more and more centers are achieving
success through more natural means such as nutritional counseling,
natural supplements and personalized fitness plans.
Treatment programs like InnerBalance Health
Center seek to assist clients by giving them tools to improve both
their emotional and physical
well being. When complementary treatments are used in conjunction with
group counseling, clients have a higher chance of long-term recovery. “I
was in and out of many centers for treatment, with some short term
help but no long term solutions,” reported Bob, a former client. “The
other treatment centers only focused on two things—the mind and
the spirit—and completely ignored the body. Therefore, there
was no success in the long run. There was no comparison to the other
type of treatment center. InnerBalance was much father ahead.” Biochemical
repair methods of replacement therapy involve the use of IV drips to
supply amino acid, vitamin and mineral supplements which rapidly restore
health. Clients find relief from withdrawal symptoms and receive a
boost to their overall health almost immediately. At InnerBalance Health
Center, clients also have membership to a health club. Incorporating
yoga, meditation and exercise in the treatment plan provides clients
with additional tools for managing stress.
The transformations we see with patients are remarkable. Not only
are cravings significantly reduced but our patients report significant
improvements in almost all aspects of their life. Armed with this new-found
confidence and improved health, our patients are much better prepared
to handle the long-term recovery of permanent abstinence from drugs
and alcohol. They are educated on the benefits of certain nutritional
supplements and physical activity. Through talk therapy, clients have
the psychological support necessary to help them handle the stresses
that life can bring.
Treatment centers that incorporate biochemical
restoration practice in the theory that addiction is the result of
unbalanced chemical messengers
in the brain. Researcher Kenneth Blum described this as “reward
deficiency syndrome.” Addicts seek out stimulus to make themselves
feel better. Their brain chemistry requires different levels of stimuli
than non-addicts to feel good. In biochemical repair, clients receive
individualized medical assessments and customized biochemical treatment
regiments. Initially, a series of medically supervised laboratory test
are run to identify problematic factors such as hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia,
vitamin and mineral deficiencies or toxicities, excessive metals, food
allergies and histamine levels. Amino acid and hormonal imbalances
are also identified. The test results are interpreted by physicians
and individualized health plans are created to correct imbalances.
Symptoms of these imbalances include: inability to concentrate, anxiety,
depression, poor memory, headaches, blurred vision, indigestion, nervousness,
mood swings, racing thoughts and fatigue. Appropriate vitamin, mineral,
amino acid and hormone replacement therapies are then used to correct
deficiencies and provide relief from the symptoms. For example if a
person has high histamine, neurons in the brain fire excessively which
causes racing thoughts resulting in insomnia, extreme anxiety, difficulty
concentrating and compulsive behavior. To address this condition, a
patient would be given the amino acid L-Methionine to bring down histamine
levels which dramatically reduces or eliminates the symptoms. These
treatment formulas are natural chemicals essential to good health.
Biochemical repair can trigger dramatic changes
in the body and improve total health and well-being. “I am sober, healthy and happy now,” said
Linda. “I can really enjoy my life again.” People struggling
with addiction have a better chance of maintaining long-term sobriety
when treatment centers employ a complete recovery plan incorporating
biochemical repair, talk therapy and strategies for a healthy lifestyle
including nutrition and exercise. For decades, many treatment centers
have been relying solely on talk therapy and have accepted the dismal
success rates. By incorporating the “missing link” of biochemical
repair, success rates can be significantly improved.
