How Can Chiropractic Therapy Benefit Someone Who Is Battling A Drug Or Alcohol Addiction?
Chiropractic care has a number ofbenefits . That is why it is easy to find a rehab program that has chosen to incorporate chiropractic therapy into addiction treatment. There are many ways that people who have a drug or alcohol addiction can benefit from receiving chiropractic therapy.
One of the ways that chiropractic therapy can benefit someone who is dealing with a drug or alcohol addiction is by increasing dopamine levels. Dopamine is a one of the feel good neurotransmitters. People who have an alcohol or drug addiction turn to the addictive substance because they like the way it makes them feel. Chiropractic therapy helps a person feel good without
Supports believe that these programs can reduce transmission and encourage substance abusers to seek treatment (Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly, 2015). Some needle exchange programs help people find the road to recovery. Drug users find it easier to enter rehabilitation centers through the help of these programs because of both the trusting relationships the build with the people at the programs, and the fact that the programs know the rehabilitation system well and can find them a good program.
They also lower people's blood pressure which helps saves their life. Chiropractors don’t need medication or any kind of surgery to make their patients feel relieved of pain. Chiropractic care is popular all over the world. Although the chiropractic profession was founded in the United States in 1895, spinal manipulation has a long history of use in China. The first time chiropractic care was used in the United States, it brought back a guy’s hearing back in 1895 by Daniel David Palmer. Just remember the next time a person pulls or throws out a muscle tell them to go see their closest chiropractor, they will make them feel like a new
Schaller, K. J. (1996). Tai Chi Chih: an exercise option for older adults. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 22, 12-16.
During the rehab process, patients receive much more than therapy and counselling. They learn a lot about addiction and what it takes to stay on the path of recovery. In many cases, they also learn the value of having one or more support groups. For many years now, counselors have placed a great deal of value on promoting the idea of "one addict helping another addict." In fact, who would know more about the recovery process than someone who has successfully lived it?
The chiropractic profession is one of the largest and to present, the most commonly known profession to complement and take part in the so called mainstream and ‘alternative medicine’. (Meeker, WC et al. 2002.) With a relatively new founding of chiropractic, the profession has since been divided into a range of theories towards effective treatments, structure and function. These contradicting theories, between followers of the original ideology, and those of the evolved theory, have caused a major schism within the profession, which have further negatively impacted society’s view of the chiropractic profession as a whole. (Meeker, WC et al. 2002.)
Drugs seem to cause surges in dopamine neurotransmitters and other pleasure brain messengers. However, the brain quickly adapts and these circuits desensitize, which allows for withdrawal symptoms to occur (3). Drug addiction works on some of the same neurobiological mechanisms that aid in learning and memories (3). "This new view of dopamine as an aid to learning rather than a pleasure mediator may help explain why many addictive drugs, which unleash massive surges of the neurotransmitter in the brain, can drive continued use without producing pleasure-as when cocaine addicts continue to take hits long after the euphoric effects of the drug have worn off or when smokers smoke after cigarettes become distasteful." (4)
There are several different ways to approach substance abuse therapy but the approach must be fitting to the client and the client’s needs. The main goal of substance abuse counseling is to prevent the client from using harmful substances in excessive and potentially dangerous ways. A major portion within the therapy itself is relapse prevention. Relapse prevention is aimed at counseling the individual in such a way to prevent future relapse. The relapse prevention technique also helps the client to discover any underlying issues that may have caused them to start using drugs and alcohol in the first place. Substance abuse counseling focuses on the whole counseling technique, not just the small area of substance abuse. Because substance abuse is frequently related to other life issues, the counseling takes a more broad focus to not only help the client recover from their addictions but also to solve mental, emotional, occupational, and family issues as well. There is a growing need for substance abuse counseling in today’s society because of the more prevalent presence of drugs and alcohol. It is important to understand the different counseling techniques for substance abuse clients because of the growing number of clients in need.
Drug addiction is often characterized as being a complex brain disease that causes compulsive, uncontrollable, drug craving, seeking and use without any regards to the consequences they may bring upon themselves, or society. As long as the brain is exposed to these large amounts of dopamine on the reward system, it will inevitably develop a tolerance to the current dopamine levels, which it is receiving, lessening the pleasure the user will experience. In order to satisfy the brains “reward...
...use. As with most mental illness, a combination of medical treatment and psychological counseling is usually most effective. Medical treatments may alter the body's reaction to a substance, reduce cravings, or change a substance's effect (3). "Because substance abuse is likely to coexist with another mental disorder, particularly depression or anxiety, psychoactive medications are often prescribed" (3). Although drugs may help people break away from a substance, psychotherapy or supportive counseling is usually essential in minimizing relapses (3).
To begin with, in order for a facility to be successful in treating people with addictions whether it be alcohol, or drugs the facility must have a treatment plan to use and guide both counselors and the client alike to be successful in the program.
Dopamine is a reward chemical in the brain which rewards us every time we do something positive. Addiction comes from that chemical and can be created from various activities. Someone might enjoy jumping off a cliff, eating food, taking drugs or even play video games. Every time your brain enjoys something, dopamine is release and you start feeling good. The reason drug addiction is more complex, your brain will create more dopamine the more drugs you take. Eventually, your body will fight off the foreign product and dopamine will be created in too high dosage. Your body will become addicted to the dopamine, not the drug as previously thought by doctors.
Though not much research has been done to find out the effectiveness on NA meetings for persons with addictions, there are some studies done to show outcomes of this form of treatment. Many addicts try to put themselves in rehab or some form of treatment to help them with their recovery. According to the article “Attendance at Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, frequency of attendance and substance use outcomes after residential treatment for drug dependence: a 5-year follow-up study” by Michael Gossop, Duncan Stewart, John Marsden, they state “…the relatively high rate of relapse which often occurs after leaving treatment gives rise to concern” (Gossop, Stewart, & Marsden ,2008). This means after rehab there is no form of treatment helping them with their sobriety. “Studies that looked specifically at NA have found an association between group attendance and improved drug-using outcomes and length of time in NA has been found to be related to abstinence from illicit drugs” (Gossop, Stewart, & Marsden ,2008). Another study on youth, ages ranging from 30 and under, from the article “Can 12-step group participation strengthen and extend the benefits of adolescent addiction treatment? A prospective analysis” by John Kelly, Sarah Dow, Julie Yeterian, and Christopher Kahler, explains “…high post-treatment rates
Individuals who go through the process of becoming a chiropractor are dedicating their lives to improving others through their own hands. Giving a patient relief and satisfaction without harming their body with drugs that can have horrible side effects is a feeling that is unlike anything else. Facilitating an individual to heal and strengthen their entire life is what chiropractors strive for and many accomplish that ambition. Additionally, studies and surveys have shown why students of chiropractic choose this profession. The top reasons were that they truly want to help people and heal them, the increase in financial status, and the ambition of having the title “Doctor.”
Main Point: The effects on a person after they become addicted to something can be small, or they can be great, depending on the length of time they are exposed to the addictive behavior or substance and what caused it. The addiction affects the addict’s health, career and relationships. I can tell you from personal experience with having family members who were addicts, that I was traumatized growing up. (Personal story about couple arguing here.) According to Roxanne Edwards of Medicine.net, “In terms of effects on the body, intoxication with a substance can cause physical effects that range from marked sleepiness and slowed breathing …to the rapid heart rate...” In addition, psychologically they can have suicidal thoughts or elation depending on the addictive substance or behavior. This is why it is important for the addict to seek help because they cannot get rid of the issue on their own. Most of the time, addicts go through some sort of rehab treatment and when they are released they are instructed to go to meetings that help with the aftermath of addiction. Just a few of these groups are places like Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous, or even Celebrate Recovery. Although some places believe that these programs do not work, it is well worth mentioning that the success rates depend on the want to of the person working them. They have to want to remain sober or free from the addiction or they will go right back to it. Alcohol Rehab.com puts it this way, “Failure to
Nearly all drugs of abuse increase dopamine release. Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter in drug abuse and addiction. Dopamine plays a role in reward-motivated behaviors, motor control and important hormones. It’s known as the “feel good hormone” which is why people abuse drugs that increase the release of dopamine. Since life is unpredictable, our brains have evolved the ability to remodel themselves in response to our experiences.