#addiction-treatment — Public Fediverse posts

Harvard Gazette: Yoga can help cut severe, initial opioid-withdrawal period in half, study finds . “Just 10 sessions of yoga can cut the length of the initial, most severe period of opioid withdrawal nearly in half, dramatically increasing the odds of successful recovery, new research shows.”

The Conversation: Reddit and TikTok – with the help of AI – are reshaping how researchers understand substance use . “Today, millions of people openly discuss their experiences with drugs online, creating a vast collection of raw narratives about drug use. As a doctoral student in information science with a background in public health, I use this material to better understand how people who use […]

OnWisconsin: AI Referrals Can Reduce Opioid Addiction. “In a recent UW study, an AI screening tool successfully identified hospitalized adults at risk for opioid use disorder and recommended referral to inpatient addiction specialists. The AI method was just as effective as a health provider in initiating addiction-specialist consultations and recommending monitoring of opioid withdrawal.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2025/11/13/onwisconsin-ai-referrals-can-reduce-opioid-addiction/

Beyond Willpower in Addiction: 4 Powerful Lessons

We often think of addiction as a private, grueling battle of willpower.

Whether it’s a dependency on a substance, a behavior like gambling, or even an unhealthy pattern in a relationship, the prevailing narrative suggests that breaking free is a matter of pure, individual strength.

If you just try hard enough, you can overcome it. If you fail, it’s a personal failing. 

But what if this framework is fundamentally flawed? A recent, year-long study offers a more structured, hopeful, and evidence-based path to recovery.

Researchers applied a specific form of therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to individuals struggling with a range of addictions and discovered that the right tools can do more than just help people cope; they can fundamentally transform their lives.

It’s about building a life so full and satisfying that the addiction no longer has room to thrive.

This year-long study is particularly significant because it was conducted in Kazakhstan, a region where evidence-based psychotherapy is still emerging and social stigma can be a major barrier to recovery. 

This article distills the four most impactful takeaways from this groundbreaking research. It reveals how a systematic therapeutic approach can lead to profound, measurable life changes, challenging the myth that recovery is simply a matter of gritting your teeth and pushing through. 

Lesson 1: The Change to Isn’t Small, It’s Transformative

While we might expect therapy to offer some benefit, the sheer magnitude of improvement seen in this study was extraordinary.

Participants who received Cognitive Behavioral Therapy didn’t just get slightly better; they experienced a dramatic and measurable enhancement in their overall well-being. 

The study used the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF), which measures well-being across four key areas. The results were staggering.

On average, the experimental groups saw their quality of life scores jump from the low 40s to the mid-70s on a 100-point scale. To put that in concrete terms, participants with alcohol use disorder went from an average score of 42.31 before therapy to 74.47 after one year.

This isn’t just a number on a chart; it represents a profound shift from a life constrained by addiction to one filled with new possibilities and well-being. 

Meanwhile, the control groups, those who did not receive CBT, saw no meaningful improvement in their quality of life, with their average scores remaining essentially unchanged.

This powerful contrast repositions recovery as a genuine opportunity to build a measurably better and more satisfying life.

It’s about building a life so full and satisfying that the addiction no longer has room to thrive. 

Are you exploring your trauma? Do you feel your childhood experiences were detrimental to your current mental or physical health? Utilize this free, validated, self-report questionnaire to find out.

Take the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Questionnaire

Beyond Willpower Lesson 2: The Same Tools Can Fix Different Problems

One of the most compelling aspects of the study was its breadth.

Researchers applied the same core therapeutic model, CBT, to four very different challenges:

• Alcohol use disorder
• Drug addiction
• Gambling disorder
• Codependency

The key finding was that CBT was highly effective across the board. 

For every single group that received therapy, there was a statistically significant reduction in the severity of their addiction. The data paints a clear picture of this versatility: 

• For drug addiction, the experimental group’s average severity score dropped from 7.96 (signifying harmful use) down to 3.14 (representing low-risk or minimal use). 
• For gambling disorder, the average severity score plummeted from a “severe” 39.55 to a “mild or moderate” 14.36. 

This suggests that no matter the substance or behavior, the underlying challenge is often the same: learning to recognize triggers, challenge automatic negative thoughts, and develop new, healthier coping strategies.

CBT provides a toolkit for rewiring these exact processes, effectively helping people move from a place of denial or ambivalence into decisive action and long-term maintenance. 

Do you have enough hours for your LPC renewal? Are you in need of continuing education, but bored with the current offerings? Check out Dr. Weeks’ course on Cannabis Use Disorder, and other unique courses on her practice website.

Sexual Addiction Treatment Services has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7250. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Sexual Addiction Treatment Services is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Lesson 3: Codependency Isn’t Just a “Relationship Problem.” It’s Treatable.

The study took the significant step of including codependency, an excessive emotional or psychological dependence on a partner, often linked to that partner’s addiction, alongside clinical addictions. While codependency is not formally classified as a standalone diagnosis in major manuals like the DSM-5-TR, the researchers recognized it as a clinically significant phenomenon that is actively addressed in rehabilitation. 

The results were a powerful validation of this approach.

The experimental group for codependency saw their average severity scores drop from a “high level” of 69.12 to a “moderate or low level” of 31.44. The control group, in stark contrast, showed no significant change.

For anyone who has felt trapped in a dynamic of supporting someone else’s addiction at the expense of their own well-being, this finding is a beacon of hope. 

This is a crucial takeaway.

It frames the struggle of codependency not as a character flaw or an intractable relationship dynamic, but as a treatable condition. It offers empowerment and a clear path toward building greater independence, self-esteem, and healthier relationship dynamics. 

Beyond Willpower Lesson 4: Recovery Isn’t Just Stopping, It’s a Total Life Upgrade

The study’s design was brilliant in its simplicity: it measured success in two ways. It tracked the reduction of the negative (addiction severity) and the increase of the positive (overall quality of life). The results showed that these two things are deeply intertwined. 

The “quality of life” assessment wasn’t a vague feeling of happiness; it was a concrete evaluation of four essential domains of life: 

• Physical Health: Including energy and fatigue, quality of sleep, and even physical mobility. 
• Psychological Health: Covering everything from positive feelings and self-esteem to the ability to concentrate and learn new things. 
• Social Relationships: Examining the quality of personal relationships, the strength of social support networks, and even sexual activity. 
• Environment: Looking at practical, real-world factors like financial security, physical safety, the comfort of one’s home, and access to healthcare. 

The participants who underwent CBT saw significant improvements across all of these areas. This demonstrates that effective treatment doesn’t just happen in a therapist’s office. It radiates outward, improving every facet of a person’s existence.

True recovery, as this study shows, is about building a life that is so robust and fulfilling that the old addictive behaviors no longer hold the same power or appeal. 

Conclusion: A New Framework for Change

The findings from this study in Kazakhstan provide a powerful, evidence-based roadmap for recovery that moves far beyond the limited concept of willpower.

It shows that addiction, in its many forms, is not a moral failing but a condition that responds remarkably well to structured, compassionate, and science-backed intervention. 

By focusing on cognitive and behavioral strategies, individuals can achieve not just abstinence, but a transformative and holistic improvement in their lives. The tools exist, the evidence is clear, and the potential for change is immense.

This research leaves us with a vital question to consider: 

If we can treat these complex issues so effectively, what does that change about how we should approach mental health and personal growth in our own lives? 

Are you a professional looking to stay up-to-date with the latest information on, sex addiction, trauma, and mental health news and research? Or maybe you’re looking for continuing education courses? Then you should stay up-to-date with all of Dr. Jen’s work through her practice’s newsletter!

Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Then you should consult with a professional.

Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.

#addiction #addictionRecovery #addictionTreatment #alcoholAbuse #alcoholRecovery #alcoholUse #alcoholUseDisorder #cbt #cognitiveBehavioralTherapy #drugAbuse #drugAddiction #drugAddictionRecovery #drugUse #evidenceBasedTherapy #gambling #gamblingAddiction #kazakhstan #therapyOutcomes #willpower

Sobriety initiatives are another focus.

Last year, Michaela Haas shared about programs that financially incentivize sobriety.

A new NYT piece by Geetanjali Krishna dives into these programs' effectiveness for treating meth addiction through cash rewards.

#Sobriety #AddictionTreatment

Route Fifty: South Carolina database makes addiction treatment measurement accessible. “A new website, created by the South Carolina Center of Excellence in Addiction, makes it easier for state and local leaders, health care providers, researchers, and citizens to understand how well opioid use disorder treatment is working in their communities. The website provides an example of how states […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2025/05/22/route-fifty-south-carolina-database-makes-addiction-treatment-measurement-accessible/

Per far smettere un tossico serve fargli "toccare il fondo"?
(serve "costringere a toccare il fondo" una persona che usa "droghe" per "salvarlo"? o si rischia più che altro di ucciderlo..)

#riemersione #droga #droghe #tossicodipendenza #toccareilfondo #addiction #dipendenzepatologiche #AddictionTreatment #AddictionTherapy #recovery #alcolismo #disturbodausodisostanze #disturbodausodialcol #salutementale #riflessioni #RiduzioneDelDanno #eroina #cocaina #dipendenze #blog

https://riemersione.blogspot.com/2024/04/per-smettere-di-drogarsi-serve-toccare.html

ICYMI: Canada expands addiction treatment advertising with LegitScript certification: Google to allow Canadian addiction treatment centers to advertise through LegitScript certification starting March 2025. https://ppc.land/canada-expands-addiction-treatment-advertising-with-legitscript-certification/ #AddictionTreatment #LegitScript #MentalHealth #Canada #DrugAwareness

Benzodiazepine dependence can lead to physical and psychological signs, including tolerance and withdrawal. The risks of long-term use can be severe, but there are effective treatments for recovery.

Addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of addiction is key for overcoming benzodiazepine dependence and achieving lasting wellness.

https://boldstepsnh.com/blog/benzodiazepine-dependence-signs-risks-treatment/

#BenzodiazepineDependence #AddictionTreatment #RecoveryJourney #MentalHealth

Revolutionizing Addiction Treatment: The Science of Hope

#AddictionTreatment #Psychedelics #Empathogens #GLP1Agonists #MentalHealth #Neuroscience #Recovery #Hope #TransformativeHealing #BrainHealth #InnovativeScience #SubstanceUseDisorder #HealingJourney #Mindfulness #AddictionRecovery

https://youtube.com/shorts/oRHP4PZS0kA?feature=share

è stato fin troppo facile? (290 giorni senza alcol)

#riemersione #alcolismo #tossicodipendenza #addiction #dipendenzepatologiche #dipendenze #addictiontreatment #addiction #sober #sobria #disturbodausodialcol #blog

https://riemersione.blogspot.com/2024/11/fin-troppo-facile.html

Scientists identify dopamine-rich brain pathways that fuel cocaine-seeking behavior https://www.psypost.org/scientists-identify-dopamine-rich-brain-pathways-that-fuel-cocaine-seeking-behavior/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #dopamine #cocaineseeking #brainpathways #addictiontreatment #neuroscience

At least a third of the publicly funded #AddictionTreatment beds #BCgovernment claims are available for drug users across #BritishColumbia do not actually offer treatment, the #IJF has learned.

“B.C. now has 3,645 publicly funded substance-use treatment beds, including 659 beds opened since 2017 with more to come,” the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions announced in an Aug. 27 press release.

But a breakdown of the available types of adult and youth treatment options provided by the ministry shows that its tally includes 1,232 low-barrier housing beds, accounting for about 34 per cent of the total.

#Addictions treatment is not directly provided in low-barrier housing in B.C., but is part of “a full continuum of support services,” the ministry said in an email to the IJF. This type of facility simply makes shelter available to people who use drugs, without requiring them to abstain or be in treatment.

The news comes as both the #BCConservatives and the #BCNDP government are touting #involuntary addiction care as a solution to the province’s ongoing #ToxicDrugCrisis.

That #political focus is deeply frustrating for Correne Antrobus of #MomsStopTheHarm, an advocacy group led by families affected by tainted illegal drugs.

https://theijf.org/bc-publicly-funded-addiction-treatment-low-barrier-housing

#BCpoli #Medical #PublicHealth #HarmfulPolicy #Cruelty #HumanRights #MentalHealth #AddictionsStigma #MentalIllnessStigma #BreakTheSitgmas #HelpNotHarm #BCNewDeathParty #BCNDPLegacyoOfDeath #FundMentalWellness #FundSocialHousing #NeverVoteConservative #NeverVoteNeoliberal #BCElection2024 #BCVotes2024 #BCelection #CDNpoli

https://scienmag.com/study-telehealth-builds-autonomy-trust-in-treating-addiction/ Study: Telehealth builds autonomy, trust in treating addiction (2024) #telehealth #mentalhealth #addictiontreatment #psychotherapy #opioidusedisorder

Opioid use among youth is on the rise, as are overdose deaths. But a few trailblazing pediatricians are working to educate their colleagues so that more adolescents receive the medications that are recommended by professional groups as the first line of treatment. https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/health-disease/2023/medications-opioid-use-disorder-moud-and-adolescents?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=rerun&utm_campaign=reruns

#KnowableMagazine #ScienceMastodon #AddictionTreatment

https://brainpizza.substack.com/p/altered-states-rewiring-cravings

Altered States: Rewiring cravings (Part two) - Semaglutide's potential impact on substance use disorders and brain plasticity

#SemaglutideImpact #BrainPlasticity #SubstanceUseDisorder #AddictionTreatment #HealthResearch #BrainHealth #MedicalAdvancements #HealthcareInnovation #AlteredStatesSeries #HealthAndWellness #Neuroscience #DrugEffects #SUDTreatment #RewiringCravings

I was on the following pod, talking about something new - 'those [new] weight loss drugs could be the real deal':

https://cjpeconomics.substack.com/p/wow-for-once-some-real-good-news

#novonordisk #weightlossdrugs #healthcareinnovation #MedicalAdvancements #DrugEfficacy #HealthierFuture #addictiontreatment #brainhealth #investmentspeculation #ultraprocessedfoods #healthjourney #christmashealthtips

HIPAA is not good enough for criminalized & stigmatized health information. Aligning #42CFRPart2 w/ #HIPAA will discourage people from entering #addictiontreatment & puts patients at risk of arrest, prosecution & discrimination. I let HHS.gov know I want to #ProtectPart2 https://bit.ly/3ibsHMJ

First, do no harm: An argument for a radical new paradigm for treating addiction - Enlarge / A call for radical empathy: In her 2021 book, Undoing Drugs: ... - https://arstechnica.com/?p=1784718 #popularsciencebooks #addictiontreatment #gaming&culture #drugaddiction #psychology #medicine #science #books