Neuroscience is leading the way in opiate addiction treatment, giving a new outlook on recovery.

Neuroscience has enlightened medical providers to a better understanding of addiction treatment and methods in which to reach long-term recovery. The National Institute on Drug Abuse issued a strategic plan to develop understanding of the neuroscience aspect that relates to behavioral changes and patterns in addiction. The plan also has goals to make treatment more effective by gearing interventions in treatment toward reducing negative outcomes and how substance use disorders are viewed by society.

Additionally, Stanford researchers have identified a pathway within the brain that when pinpointed and the nerve cells controlled, there was noted improvement in mice suffering from opiate withdrawals. The direct link between the nucleus accumbens and the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) proved to be extremely hopeful in reverting this pathway back to the original synaptic strength, thus eradicating the effects caused by the abused drugs.

Promising studies such as these allow providers who are leaning in the direction of science based treatments to feel confident that modalities of treatment will continue to become more prominent in the field of addiction treatment. While there is a place for narcotic treatment methods in opiate addiction, use of nutritional support, relaxation techniques, teaching the patient about the different aspects of holistic health, and therapy are gaining popularity.

Matthew Leichter from The Goodman Center is leading the way in this holistic approach. Goodman Center is offering alternative therapies such as massage and relaxation that allow the patient to be more receptive to the traditional group meetings and cognitive behavioral methods. The Victory Treatment Program has the same philosophy. Victory is promoting healthy meal planning, adequate hydration, and vitamin replacements to patients. Both centers are working closely together to keep abreast to the future of addiction treatment, giving patients top of the line science based addiction treatments.

For more information on Victory Treatment Program click here.

For Goodman Center click here.