Addiction Treatment

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Addiction is one of the most pervasive problems within our society today. People have become attached to external elements such as drugs, alcohol, food, sex, technology, and many more in the pursuit of both happiness as well as peace. These items all provide us with some sort of relief from life’s troubles and temporarily alleviates the suffering that arises throughout the course of life. When suffering is high, attachment and addiction become the mechanisms through which life become habitable once again. The problem with these externalities is that they do not work forever, or they only work on occasion. In conjunction with their inconsistency, substances and behaviors result in extremely negative consequences both physically as well as psychologically for the ‘addicted’ person. Their repercussions can be devastating upon the lives of those who are affected as well as their loved ones. 

The conversation around addiction needs to evolve from the traditional model that has prevailed throughout the 20th century. What’s staggering to note however is that rates of success for addiction treatment today is one of the lowest reported amongst all medical treatments. Statistics show that traditional models of recovery hold a success rate between 8% and 12%. This rate has not changed since the introduction of the classical model in the 1920’s, yet it still remains the recommended course of therapy for anyone suffering from substance use disorder. 

We approach addiction from a compassionate perspective that views it through the lens of attachment rather than the medical disease model. Addictive tendencies are elements of behaviors that are indiscriminate of the specific object of attachment that follows from said behavior. It is not the substance that is the problem that needs to be treated but rather our habitual views and approaches towards seeking out externalities for comfort and happiness. 

The process of recovery is one whereby an individual is able to identify that within him/herself that is whole and complete exactly the way they are without the need for a given attachment. All addictions are rooted within the exact same core element and we all have them. There is no difference between a person who is consuming a large amount of alcohol from one who is binging on television or their cell phone. Addiction is a habitual behavior and all habits can be broken. 

Oftentimes within traditional models, it is highly likely that an ‘addicted’ person will develop a cross attachment to something else such as cigarettes, coffee, exercise, or recovery itself. This can be extremely harmful, and it only replaces one attachment for another. We believe that recovery is possible, and it is not necessarily a life-long process. As one ceases to engage in destructive behaviors involved with their attachment, the cycle has been broken and that person no longer holds the diagnosis of substance use disorder. We provide an engaging approach that is applicable to all aspects within a person’s life so that they will not identify another object, person, or behavior as their new ‘addiction’. 

What truly encouraged us to work on this highly specialized research is the extremely high relapse rate amongst traditional models and recovery centers today. It is not uncommon to have an individual attending a very expensive rehabilitation center for their 10th or more time. Something is very wrong with the message and treatment that is being delivered today and our goal here is to change the conversation so that we can view addiction appropriately and constructively. 

Trauma is another important element that we address within our model. We know through research that most people diagnosed with substance use disorder also have an extremely tumultuous past. Trauma, particularly in childhood, has an exponential effect upon the likelihood that one will abuse substances as an adult. What is oftentimes missed is that early childhood trauma can also lead one to abuse things such as work, education, and people. 

The people who are using substances harmfully are doing so in the same way that a man or woman may overwork themselves out of fear of loss or repeated trauma. Though it might appear from the external that a person who is highly dedicated to his career field is extremely successful, oftentimes that person is compensating with behaviors in an attempt to fill the same void within. Our society glorifies these over-workers therefore their suffering is generally missed. 

Our approach towards addiction treatment dissolves the narrative that a person is broken, separate, or needs anything at all. This might sound extremely radical and highly controversial, but why must we continue along the same path of treatment when it has shown for over 100 years that it doesn’t work for the majority? The 88% of people who have not responded to the traditional model of treatment need an alternative that is both compassionate and effective.

Whether you are struggling with drugs, alcohol, sex, food, technology, people, or anything else, the experience of filling the void within is the same but there is a true solution that is beyond anything you could ever grasp outside you. We are here to teach you another way so that you can recover and begin to live a whole new life outside attachment.