The opioid epidemic has grown out of control, leading to an explosion of people suffering from its ill effects. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mentions that more than 130 people die per day from opiate overdoses. Many people are seeking solutions but are coming to the realization that not one treatment size fits all. Rehab programs all over the country have sprung up to battle against the opioid crisis, but are having minimal success due to the current global pandemic. Other individuals are trying to overcome their chemical dependency with support from meetings, counseling along with assistance from BIG PHARMA, but are experiencing mixed results as well. Yet, a small portion of addiction treatment programs and addiction recovery services sees more success than others, leading one to think that the current approach to dealing with an opiate addiction may pehaps need to be reconsidered.
Significant Relapse Numbers
Despite support from inpatient and outpatient facilities, many addiction patients fall back into their old habits. Initially, these clinics were designed to ensure that those who suffered from substance abuse didn't end up in the same environments that led to their addictions in the first place. Yet even with those safeguards in place, many relapses within the first six months of leaving the program. The Journal of Addiction notes that there are some signs that a patient may relapse following the process. Even so, very little is being done to incorporate this knowledge into designing more effective rehabilitation programs.
The Flaw in the System
When one examines the state of rehab programs within the country, a few significant problems stand out. Chief among these issues is the dependence on medication to solve the patients' problems. Physical dependency can be dealt with using medicine, but in most cases, addiction stems from something more profound than just a physical need for the drug. Individuals who suffer from drug addiction may be triggered by elements within their lives that push them to use. If rehabilitation programs are to be more effective, they need to focus on solving these root causes.
A Modern Approach To Recovery
Dr. Joseph Yi, a board-certified addiction psychiatrist, believes he may have the solution to this problem. Dr. Yi is a holistic psychiatrist and an entrepreneur who runs an outpatient clinic that deals with clients struggling with chemical dependency, yet his approach doesn't rely heavily on medication at all. In fact, his focus has been to help people come off of prescription or illicit medications by empowering the individual to become their own best doctor. Dr. Yi carefully evaluates his patients and offers a more holistic approach to optimize the journey of wellness. By customizing a treatment plan that helps patients realize their unique mental, physical and spiritual balance, Dr Yi has achieved impeccable results leading others health providers in Pennsylvania to follow a similar pathway towards healing. Dr. Yi's goal is to let other physicians understand that recovery cannot take on a one size fits all approach as each individual has their own specific needs to address. Holistic solutions aim to tackle the human being as a whole by investigating the root biopsychosocial and spiritual root causes of their affliction to optimize true healing, and not just check boxes when individual symptoms are alleviated.
A Better Alternative?
The holistic treatment works better in many cases because it seeks to deal with a patient's underlying issues. Instead of seeing addiction as something that only affects a person physically, it also considers the mental and spiritual aspects of the human condition. Doing so tends to be more effective in keeping patients from falling into their old habits. While it may not work for everyone, it is a valuable resource for those who genuinely want to leave their addictions behind. Whether other addiction doctors will realize its efficacy and start adopting a more holistic approach for recovery, remains to be seen.
