For decades, treatment centers have tried tackling drug and alcohol addiction by using the 12 steps.  The 12 step treatment model believes that addiction is an incurable disease, “once an addict, always an addict”, and relapse is a part of recovery.  This philosophy statistically speaking has not resulted in good numbers.   According to the Harvard Medical Health Letter, “the surveyed 12 step drug and alcohol treatment programs have a 5% percent success rate and those probably actually have a zero percent success rate.”   These are staggering low numbers considering the amount of federal and state funding which subsidize these rehabs.  Insurance and pharmaceutical companies make billions of dollars in the rehabilitation field by using a replacement drugs, as a form of treatment.  Replacement drug therapy makes up majority of 12 step rehabs which is another factor of providing not only useless treatment but also harmful rehabilitation to patients.

Fortunately, more research has been done in the field of holistic medicine and studies have shown a dramatic increase in success rates from treatment centers that offer a drug-free approach.  Drug rehabs that offer a biophysical treatment program are now able to eliminate cravings by detoxifying the body.  Using specific vitamins, minerals, amino acids, light exercise, and sauna therapy, the cleansing process removes poisons and toxins from the body.  As a result, the drug residues are pushed out of the tissues by sweating.  After this cleansing process, not only is the body free of drugs, toxins, and poisons, but also the mind and brain are clear as well.  Once the cleanse is complete counseling and therapy techniques are able to work and be effective.

Now that the mind, body and brain are clean and clear of harmful drugs and alcohol, the non 12-step drug rehab deals with the underlying issues of addiction.  Cognitive counseling and life skills therapy are designed to address the reasons the addictive individual originally turned to drugs and alcohol in the first place.  Once these issues are discovered, than the life skills therapy teaches the patient coping skills, builds self-esteem and confidence, and improves integrity and morals.  Remember not every drug rehab facility does provide this type of treatment.

Finding the most effective drug treatment center is vital for a successful recovery.