The Future of Addiction Treatment

The body, mind, soul and spirit are connected and disease affecting one of these areas must affect all other parts of the person. Holistic treatment is designed to address the root cause of the addiction, support total healing, and restore balance to a person’s whole being creating life-long sustained recovery and well-being. 

The complexities of addiction treatment is always being recognized by professionals, and while a single universal “cure” for addiction is not on the horizon, things are not as terrible as we often hear… Yes, there is a devastating Opioid epidemic. Yes, 2.5 million Americans suffer with Opioid Use Disorder. Yes, Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States. According to the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, “17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence along with several million more who engage in risky, binge drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems.”

However, that does not mean the future of addiction treatment is not hopeful. It absolutely is. New ways of understanding mental illness, trauma, social issues, addiction, co-occurring disorders, new technologies, and new approaches to Substance Use Disorder are emerging to create a culture of thriving individuals living in long-term recovery.

Perhaps the leading challenge associated with addiction treatment in coming years and decades is to ensure that everyone who needs treatment receives it. Currently, only about 10% of people with Substance Use Disorder receive comprehensive addiction treatment. People die every day of preventable overdoses and long-term disease that results from addiction, and improving the situation means making treatment more accessible to more people. Here is some of what you may expect in the future of addiction treatment.