The Role of Homeopathy in treatment of teenagers afflicted with addictions

The Role of Homeopathy in treatment of teenagers afflicted with addictions
Dr Samir A.Chaukkar M.D. (Homeopathy), P.G.Addictions Treatment (Canada) drsamirac69@gmail.com
Introduction
Adolescent drug abuse continues to be a major issue in our society as teen substance abuse remains at an alarmingly high rate. As most of us are aware, adolescence alone, regardless of the involvement of substance abuse, is an extremely challenging and complex transition for young individuals. Exploring and attempting to discover one's identity as an adolescent can be an overwhelming stage in one's life. In the event that drug rehab for an adolescent is needed due to drug or alcohol abuse, it is more than likely that many more obstacles will be encountered. As a result of drug abuse a teen will struggle with unmanageable physical and emotional consequences.
Adolescent addiction recovery is one of the most important types of recovery that exists in addiction treatment today. A lot of people fail to think about younger generations when they look at addictions and addiction recovery, simply because they do not expect them to have problems. Unfortunately, adolescent addiction recovery is something that we must consider and pay attention to. Those who know younger people who have an addiction will already know the importance of this recovery. By knowing as much as possible about adolescent addiction recovery, you can be sure that you will understand the importance when someone you know suffers from this issue.
Teenagers may be involved with legal or illegal drugs in various ways. Experimentation with drugs during adolescence is common. Unfortunately, teenagers often don’t see the link between their actions today and the consequences tomorrow. They also have a tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience.
Using alcohol and tobacco at a young age increases the risk of using other drugs later. Some teens will experiment and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems. Others will develop a dependency, moving on to more dangerous drugs and causing significant harm to themselves and possibly others.
Adolescence is a time for trying new things. Teens use drugs for many reasons, including curiosity, because it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up or to fit in. It is difficult to know which teens will experiment and stop and which will develop serious problems.
The physical differences between adolescents and adults are one reason why adolescents need treatment tailored to their age group. Their physical attributes, including their brains, have not finished developing.
Teens need treatment programs that address their academic issues and make their families an integral part of the plan.
Most adolescents have entered drug or alcohol treatment involuntarily, and their counselors and doctors must take this into account when establishing a treatment plan.
Homeopathy is a non-toxic system of medicine that uses highly-diluted remedies to treat illness and relieve discomfort in a wide variety of health conditions. It is thought that homeopathic remedies are able to stimulate a person’s bodily systems to deal with stress and illness more efficiently. Research is currently being undertaken to understand how and why these remedies work on the mental and physical level. Specific homeopathic remedies may be helpful during the period of withdrawal from alcohol or drugs.Holistic approaches to addiction and alcoholism can be of great assistance throughout the stages of recovery. From detoxification to reducing stress and improving mental and physical well being, holistic approaches play a vital role in regaining personal balance. For the recovering addict, holistic approaches should be accompanied by a professional treatment plan but can be effective well beyond the initial recovery phase. Recent scientific studies have demonstrated dramatically improved success rates with the addition of holistic treatment approaches.
Homeopathic remedies to help recover from alcohol addiction include Nux vomica and especially Avena sativa used for detox and nervous system support. Other support remedies to consider are Opium and Quercus if it fits the case. Use daily in a low potency such as a 6c with a liver support remedy in mother tincture such as Chelidonium, Carduus marianus, Taraxacum or Hydrastis. Deeply suppressed emotions will probably need to be addressed as well. Think of Carcinosin, Aurum, Staphysagria, the Natrums, Lycopodium, Lachesis and Sepia. If there is a family tendency towards alcoholism look at the nosodes, especially Syphilinum. The important thing to remember is that recovery is a process, and treating alcoholism is rarely straightforwardHomoeopathic therapeutic books are enriched with medicines effective for alcoholism and tobacco smoking. As in all other cases a medicine that produces symptom/ disease in a healthy human being during trial, is effective for removing the symptom/ disease in the sick. This methodology was applied in this work, according to the principles of Homoeopathy. Addicted persons are motivated and their problems were studied and recorded. After a thorough analysis of the entire case a constitutional or symptomatic medicine was prescribed. For the first two or three weeks acute medicines like Calc. Phos 6X, Nat.Mur 3X for tobacco smoking and sterculia Q, Quercus Q, Capsicum Q for alcoholism were dispensed.
From the second day onwards patients used to develop disgust for the addicted substances and gradually reduced to drink alcohol to meager and nil. Conclusion: Withdrawal symptoms are practically minimised. Loss of satisfaction and aversion for tobacco and alcohol are noticed along with return of appetite.
Homeopathy appears to be an important instrument in translating insight (information) in order to change patterns of feeling and behavior (body). In my view transference of information is the explanation of the effect of homeopathy
The combination of being aware of the underlying problem (consciousness) and stimulus to the vital force (homeopathic remedy) enforce each other and can really give permanent cure, physically, emotionally and mentally. Insight alone can sometimes bring real change, but in practice it is seldom strong enough to take away patterns of addiction. It seems as if these patterns have become part of the body memory, like the genetic information.
Homeopathy can help at three levels, detoxification, the present physical condition and the actual state of mind The first level is the actual condition of the client. They show symptoms that are caused by the drugs or alcohol they use, they are physically in a bad condition or/and they suffer from recent emotional traumas. I am convinced that it is necessary to start the treatment at this level.
Parents can also help through early education about drugs, open communication, good role modeling, and early recognition if problems are developing. If there is any suspicion that there is a problem, parents must find the most appropriate intervention for their child.The decision to get treatment for a child or adolescent is serious. Parents are encouraged to seek consultation from a mental health professional when making decisions about substance abuse treatment for children or adolescents.Parents and families must be informed consumers and should be involved in their child's recovery. No single treatment is appropriate for all teens. Counseling (individual and/or group) and other behavioral therapies are critical components of effective treatment. In therapy, teens look at issues of motivation, build skills to resist drug use, replace drug-using activities with constructive and rewarding behaviors, and improve problem-solving skills. Behavioral therapy also facilitates interpersonal relationships and the teen's ability to function in the home and community.
Treating the young person in the same milieu that we treat our older clients is not easy to do when we have been taught for years that adolescents have different family and developmental issues that can only be addressed in segregated settings. Letting go of the assumption that parent’s and therapist’s affects are not directly related to how our young clients behave and how their attitudes are formed is letting go of what we’ve been taught for 25 years. We all want to believe that if we are skilled enough, motivating enough, and change the structure of our young client’s home environment enough that they will skip happily into recovery. Now we find, that contrary to our assumtptions of how adolescent-only treatment should work, it is not us, per se, not even the parents per se, but the reference group that will make the difference in attitude, acceptance of treatment, and embracing recovery.
Constitutional Homeopathic treatment will act skillfully on your inherent nature, molding and harmonizing your self-energy to control the life situations. Constitutional Homeopathic treatment will help address any related medical, psychological, social and cognitive problems. The detailed Homeopathic history taking will also contribute in counseling which is a significant element of effective treatment in Addiction.
Homeopathy can facilitate with Detoxification, behavioral negativities, denial and deterioration from Addictions. In addition, it will help build motivation to resist Addictions, replace addictive activities with positive and rewarding behaviors, and safely manage the symptoms of withdrawal associated with quitting Addictions. Furthermore, the constitutional approach will also facilitate interpersonal relationships and the ability to function in the home and society.