Can I Overcome an Addiction to Narcotics without Medication?

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If you have been fighting an addiction to narcotics, you might ask yourself if there is a treatment method available that does not involve the use of any medications. While this type of treatment does exist, certain individuals may be better suited to it than others. Can someone possibly overcome an addiction to narcotics without medication? Yes. But it is important to understand the risks and necessary steps of such a treatment.

The Most Common Treatment Plan

In most cases, a combination of both medication and behavioral therapy is expected to be the most beneficial treatment plan. According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies.”

When someone uses medication as part of their treatment plan, it does not mean they are abusing drugs or that they are in worse shape than those who do not use medication. Every individual is different and needs a specific treatment plan that best suits their needs. As we understand it in every other type of medical plan, “no single treatment is appropriate for everyone.” So, even though a combination of medication and therapy works in most cases, it does not mean that all patients will necessarily benefit from this particular plan. A variety of traditional and alternative therapies are available to treat narcotic addiction.

Why Do Some Patients Choose Natural Addiction Treatment?

Natural detox in an addiction treatment program means medications are not used to help the patient through the process of withdrawal or to reduce cravings. Many individuals feel that natural treatment is more effective for them because they are:

• Less tempted
• Unable to abuse whatever drugs are given to them
• Going through their treatment in a more natural way
• Breaking their habit of relying on drugs to solve their problems

For many people, this can be the change in their lifestyles needed to become serious about treatment and not experience as strong or as present a temptation or opportunity to relapse. Many patients feel that the absence of medication makes their treatment more about willpower and changing the way they think about their drug use than curbing their withdrawal symptoms and cravings with drugs.

Is a Natural/Medication-Free Treatment Viable for Narcotic Addiction?

Natural addiction treatment plans can help you recover!

The answer to this question depends on the individual. Some people are strongly motivated by the fact that they are doing a medication-free treatment program, while others might find it too difficult. Either way, it can be an intense experience.

Narcotics cause strong withdrawal symptoms that, while not likely to cause life-threatening issues, can be uncomfortable or painful. According to SAMHSA, significant opioid withdrawal symptoms should usually be managed with medication, as it “can produce needless suffering in a population that tends to have limited tolerance for physical pain.” This is one school of thought on the subject, though, and some people choose natural detox for narcotic addictions.

As for addiction treatment, medication can be used to help reestablish normal brain function and to prevent relapse and diminish cravings. For many individuals, it is essential to allow focus on behavioral treatments where they would otherwise be plagued by cravings. There are actually three commonly used medications for narcotic addiction treatment: buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone.

However, some people do not feel the need for these medications. And since drugs like cocaine and marijuana do not currently have medications that can help treat addiction at this point, we know that FDA-approved medications are not always necessary to treat addiction to illicit or otherwise harmful substances.

There is a possibility that medication-free drug treatment can be successful for the treatment of narcotic addiction.

The Importance of Behavioral Therapy

Yes, medications are beneficial to those trying to wean themselves off a harmful drug or those who need extra help during their long-term treatment process. But therapy can often be the tool that essentially changes an individual’s way of thinking when it comes to narcotics. With therapy, you can discover

• Ways to deal with and fight cravings
• Ways to avoid triggers
• Multiple reasons for your drug abuse (from genetics to environment to mental illness) and how these issues might be treated as well
• How to reward yourself for positive behavior in ways that don’t involve drugs
• The feelings of other individuals (friends, family members, and other drug abusers in group therapy situations) and how they can relate to helping you with your addiction

In many cases, the conscious effort to change the way you think with counseling or behavioral therapy is more essential than being treated with medications. Even in methadone clinics, where patients are given the drug regularly to fight their cravings and curb their withdrawal symptoms, “resocialization and vocational training” are also emphasized. In many ways, therapy and/or counseling are the more essential elements in the treatment of drug addiction.

Am I a Good Candidate for Addiction Treatment Without Medication?

It is important to know if you are capable of, and a good candidate for, addiction treatment without medication. It is not a necessary treatment program and should only be taken into account if the patient is more comfortable and their doctor feels that it would be beneficial. Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I feel more comfortable with the idea of a natural detox/addiction treatment program?
• Do I understand, and am I willing to cope with, the often painful and uncomfortable symptoms associated with narcotic withdrawal?
• Do I have a good, stable support system that will be helping and watching me throughout my treatment?

If you answered yes to these questions, you might be a good candidate for this treatment. In some cases, it is possible to overcome addiction to narcotics without the use of medication, but the patient must understand that it will be difficult, and they must be willing to do the work necessary to get better.

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