St. Gregory Recovery Center proudly provides alcohol and substance addiction recovery programs to the Bayard and Des Moines communities, with both intensive outpatient and residential pathways to sobriety.
We’re always interested in new, scientifically supported methods of treatment and therapies, and we love to explore new trends in addiction medicine. While we do not at this time offer the following treatments, we may recommend them to particular clients as part of their long-term recovery process.
MAT: Decades of an Integrated Approach Still Trending
In the early 2000s, a long-term, integrated form of addiction treatment came to light in response to the opioid epidemic. When researchers saw that 12-step programs didn’t fully encompass the opioid problem, medical professionals started to integrate several approaches. A combination of counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and withdrawal-and-craving-reduction medications like methadone began to surface, proving an effective treatment strategy for millions.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a form of mood and SUD therapy. Doctors place an electromagnet on the person’s head which then sends little bursts of magnetic energy to the parts of the brain that regulate moods. Outcomes include a decrease in depression and craving symptoms and can stimulate underperforming mood regulation. TMS can be helpful in treating co-occurring mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
EMDR Therapy
In psychology, some theories center on linking eye movement to how we process stressful or unresolved traumatic experiences and memories. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) uses this idea to decrease negative emotions and chances of relapse. A licensed therapist typically walks a patient through a conversation about painful memories as they stimulate eye movement. The desired outcome is to support the natural neurological healing process by mimicking eye movement rhythms associated with successful trauma processing.
Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)
For people who suffer from comorbid addictions or diseases—that is: two or more substance dependencies and/or two or more mental health conditions at once—the administration of a stellate ganglion block (SGB) can bring short-term relief of anxiety disorder symptoms and long-term improvements in quality of life.
By temporarily blocking an overactive nervous system, professionals believe that anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms can be reduced. By numbing the stellate ganglion, a grouping of nerves in the neck that control your flight-or-fight response, stress symptoms calm down temporarily. When combined with residential treatment programs and therapies, SGB can help with the following:
- Better sleep
- Improved energy levels
- Lessened anxiety
Other Updates in Addiction Recovery Medicine
We’re seeing new withdrawal medications that lessen insomnia symptoms, particularly in people who suffer from opioid addiction withdrawal, hitting the pharmaceutical market. Regardless of your access to these types of meds, St. Gregory has excellent detox services and can support you through withdrawal safely. There are also medicines that help prevent the brain from enjoying marijuana highs, making it easier to reduce severity and abstain from THC addictions.
There are also interesting developments in financial incentives to maintain sobriety. States like California and Washington have implemented programs that would, for example, reward people who provided clean drug tests with gift cards or other monetary rewards.
Lastly, there are always new free resources coming to light that aim to prevent addiction before it starts, like substance use disorder screenings and check-ins—even when no addiction is present.
Treat Addiction in Bayard and Des Moines Today
Whether you’re interested in the latest therapeutic approaches or more traditional programs and therapy, St. Gregory Recovery can assist you and your loved ones in beating addiction today. Contact us with questions!
