At Mt. Sinai Wellness Center, we are proud to provide quality, comprehensive addiction care to our patients. However, sometimes we have people ask, why does my loved one need the “extras” you offer, like a beautiful environment, treatments including tai chi and acupuncture, and individual as well as group therapy? Why can’t you just keep them sober while they go through the 12 steps?
The answer is addiction is as complex as the human brain. No two substance use disorders are the same—even if patients are using the same drug(s), the context in which they are doing so is unique to their life. While the 12 steps may be an effective tool for healing, they are not enough for everyone. Mt. Sinai Wellness Center was founded with the goal of offering science-forward treatment options because we want our patients to have the best chance of succeeding. So, the “extras” in our program aren’t bells and whistles to make us seem more luxurious than other rehab centers. They’re the factors that can make the difference between a successful recovery and a return to dangerous substance use.
Substance Use Disorders Can Be About Emotional & Mental Needs
Most people consider the chemical dependence on a substance to be the hardest part of addiction to overcome. While it can be difficult to make it through withdrawal (more on that later), the fact is, people don’t habitually use drugs if there isn’t some underlying reason. We all know how dangerous these substances can be. Therefore, for a person to decide the risk is worth it, the high must provide an escape from something just as serious.
When it comes to substance use disorders, many patients initially turned to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate a mental health disorder. That’s why we offer a dual-diagnosis program specifically designed for those who are struggling with mental illness and a substance use disorder. We offer behavioral therapy as well as proven techniques and programs that help victims of trauma heal from their painful pasts. Once the thoughts and feelings that led someone to seek the refuge of a high have been resolved, they often find it much easier to give up illicit substances entirely—even if they are still experiencing physical cravings.
Sometimes, the Underlying Reasons for Addiction Are Physical
Drug use can also be a balm for chronic pain or injury—which is, incidentally, the reason many people with opioid use disorders started taking these drugs. Detoxing can, therefore, put chronic pain front and center. Additionally, there is a physical component to withdrawal from many substances. Being able to outlast this discomfort is essential to maintaining sobriety.
Our drug-free pain management program is one of the offerings created to address patient needs that go beyond substance use and dependency. Everything from methods for coping with stress to specialized exercise programs can help with pain management. When patients have an option to turn to that isn’t also the source of an addiction, they are happy to make the change in their life. Sadly, these alternatives are not widely known, leading many patients to our doors. We want them to walk away with the tools they need to maintain a healthy life.
Managing Addiction Through Medication-Assisted Treatment
Some treatment philosophies insist participants forgo all potentially mind-altering substances when they get sober—even if such substances are not the focus of the person’s addiction. While there is solid reasoning behind this, sometimes quitting cold turkey is neither safe nor sustainable. Using medication to help taper a body off its dependency and/or reduce cravings can be essential to maintaining sobriety, especially at the start of the process.
Our patients do not have to use medication-assisted treatment (MAT), but because it is scientifically proven to make a difference for many, we offer it to those who want to try it. This program can also work in conjunction with our dual diagnosis program to ensure there are no conflicts between a patient’s addiction and mental health treatment plans.
Though we believe substance use disorders often form due to underlying patient factors, we do not deny the extreme chemical dependencies some drugs can lead to. The worse an addiction, the more serious withdrawal is likely to be. Medication-assisted treatment can help reduce the discomfort of sudden sobriety without exposing patients to other substances that can give them a high. Our doctors administrate and oversee all MAT options—which we offer for alcohol, opioid, and tobacco use disorders—to help patients taper off the substances that have hijacked their bodies. This helps not only their physical comfort but also their mental state, making it easier for them to complete the other facets of our addiction treatment programs.
All-Around Support Leads to All-Around Healing
If you are close to someone with a substance use disorder, you’ve seen firsthand how thoroughly life can be disrupted by an addiction. Simply taking someone’s drugs, putting them through a detox program, and then returning them to the same challenging and unstable situation is unlikely to prompt long-term changes in their lifestyle. We offer comprehensive support throughout our program so our patients are more ready to handle life’s obstacles when they leave.
People often talk about sobriety as a fresh start. It is—and the more of a person’s life you make new, the further removed they are from the individual who began to struggle with substance use in the first place. With the benefits of skills like stress and emotion management, the ability to spot and arrest unhealthy patterns, understanding of the body’s nutritional needs, and help with mental health disorders, our patients are empowered to build happy, drug-free lives after they leave our program. So, yes, while someone can attend a free group therapy program in their neighborhood, it won’t have the same rewards as the comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment we offer at Mt. Sinai Wellness Center. We are dedicated to providing a wealth of evidence-based solutions to help our patients learn to thrive both during and after their time with us.
Call Mt. Sinai Wellness Center at (800) 353-4673 or contact us online to learn more about the treatment programs we offer. Your call will be completely confidential.
