Category Archives: Substance Abuse

Announcing a Series of 10 Short Books on Alternative and Integrative Mental Health Care

Integrative mental health care is a person-centered approach that emphasizes maintaining optimal health and wellness takes into account the symptoms, preferences and circumstances of each unique person uses the best available research evidence to develop an individualized treatment plan focuses … Continue reading

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Niacin, Thiamin, Vitamin C, Magnesium and Zinc May Reduce Alcohol Toxicity

This post is the sixth in a series on non-pharmacologic approaches for managing symptoms related to alcohol and drug abuse and withdrawal and decreasing the risk of relapse. Previous posts commented on evidence for natural supplements, weak electrical current and … Continue reading

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Meditation and Mindfulness Practice Reduce the Risk of Relapse

This is the fifth post in a series on non-pharmacologic approaches for alcohol and drug abuse. Previous posts reviewed the evidence for weak electrical current for managing withdrawal symptoms and herbals and other natural supplements for managing craving and withdrawal … Continue reading

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Natural Supplements for Treating Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Withdrawal: A Concise Review

This is the fourth installment in a series of posts on non-pharmacologic approaches to alcohol and drug abuse. Previous posts reviewed the evidence for weak electrical current for reducing symptoms of opioid and alcohol withdrawal. This post is offered as a … Continue reading

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Weak Electrical Current May Reduce Symptoms of Alcohol and Cocaine Withdrawal

Cranioelectrotherapy stimulation (CES) for alcohol and cocaine abuse and withdrawal Numerous studies dating back to the 1970s have investigated the efficacy of weak electrical currents in the treatment a variety of mental health problems including anxiety disorders, depressed mood, insomnia and … Continue reading

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Neuroelectric Therapy for Managing Opioid Withdrawal

Urgent need for improved management of opioid withdrawal This is the second post in a series on non-medication approaches for alcohol and drug abuse. Opioid addiction is a public health crisis in the U.S. It is estimated that as many … Continue reading

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Alternative Therapies that can Help You Control Drinking and Drug Use

Reducing drinking and drug use and withdrawal symptoms without medications This is the first post in a series on alternative and integrative approaches to alcohol and drug abuse. In this post I briefly comment on the limitations of mainstream conventional (pharmacologic … Continue reading

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Acupuncture Ineffective for Smoking Cessation and Nicotine and Cocaine Withdrawal but Effective for Insomnia

Acupuncture is not effective for reducing symptoms of nicotine withdrawal or cocaine addiction but may reduce cocaine craving after abstinence is achieved Two systematic reviews of sham-controlled trials concluded that both conventional acupuncture and electro-acupuncture are equally ineffective in reducing … Continue reading

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Acupuncture in Mental Health Care: A Concise Review

Challenges in acupuncture research Acupuncture is widely used in Asian and Western countries to treat diverse mental health problems. Evaluating the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in depressed mood and other mental health problems poses many methodological challenges because of differences … Continue reading

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Energetic Therapies in Mental Health Care

Energetic Therapies in Mental Health Care: A Short Introduction This blog post is intended as a short introduction to diverse ‘energetic’ therapies and their uses in mental health care. Future posts will review the evidence for individual energetic therapies in … Continue reading

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