Holistic Detox vs. Traditional Drug Detox

The effects of drug addiction can warp a person’s physical and mental health, as well as his or her spiritual well-being. Both traditional and holistic detox programs offer various treatment benefits that help addicts overcome the effects of addiction.

With so many types of treatment programs to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which one will work best for you. Traditional drug detox programs treat the effects of addiction in terms of enabling addicts to heal physically while regaining control of their behaviors and choices. These programs are based on ongoing research as well as years of application in the field.

Get in touch with your spiritual side!

Holistic detox programs treat the causes of addiction as well as its damaging effects. Holistic detox takes a “whole” person approach to helping addicts overcome the effects of withdrawal and the addiction cycle that makes it so difficult to stop using.

When considering holistic detox versus traditional detox programs, a person’s overall treatment needs and personal preferences will likely determine which program will work best.

Traditional Drug Detox Approach

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, traditional drug treatment approaches view addiction as a disease-type condition that’s progressive in nature, much like cancer and heart disease. Likewise, traditional detox programs address the physical and psychological components that contribute to addiction’s disease-like effects.

Several factors influence what types of interventions a traditional-based program will use, some of which include:

• Type of drug
• Frequency of use
• Number of years using drugs
• A person’s physical health
• A person’s psychological health

Each one of these factors influences the severity of the addiction and the level of treatment needed to address a person’s condition. Traditional detox programs may employ any number of interventions, such as:

• Medication therapies
• Behavioral therapies
• Support group work
• Individual psychotherapy

Holistic Detox Approach

More oftentimes than not, addicts gravitate towards drugs as a result of unresolved emotional issues in their lives. While it’s essential to treat the physical and psychological effects of addiction, neglecting the damage done to one’s spiritual self only leaves a person open to relapse and ongoing drug use.

According to the Washington State Department of Social & Health Services, holistic detox programs approach addiction treatment as a healing process that considers a person’s physical, psychological and spiritual health. In turn, holistic detox programs implement a “whole” person approach to treatment using interventions that support the body’s natural healing abilities.

Interventions used in holistic detox programs may include:

• Meditation
• Energy healing
• Yoga
• Exercise routines
• Massage
• Acupressure/acupuncture

Considerations

As each person enters the recovery process with his or her own sets of circumstances, choosing between traditional versus holistic detox programs becomes a matter of which program can best meet a person’s treatment needs. Both holistic and traditional programs employ standard treatment protocols, with holistic programs placing an added emphasis on addressing addiction’s effects on the addict’s emotional or spiritual well-being.

While some people may feel more comfortable delving into the spiritual components that contribute to an addiction problem, others may not. Ultimately, what’s most important is getting the level of treatment needed to promote ongoing abstinence from drug use.