If you’re currently in recovery for opioid addiction, you’ve taken the first and most crucial step so far. Pain is often a concern for opioid addiction specifically, as many individuals have developed an addiction treating pain that arose from accidents, sports injuries, disease, and more. A 2016 study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence emphasizes that in order to provide the best treatment for those with opioid addiction, a treatment center must understand their story. Opioid addiction has often come from patients feeling responsible for medications and/or treatment methods that aren’t working for them – as healthcare teams become more apt to listen to the needs of those in recovery and researchers develop new treatment methods, pain is going to become even more treatable than before.
Thus far, non-addictive medications and marijuana have been considered for treating pain in those seeking recovering from opioid addiction. While research has shown effectiveness in these realms, the goal is to a type of treatment that is non-intrusive and doesn’t necessarily involve medication (or, at the least, can be used in addition to medication). Technology has certainly made its way into many areas of research, including addiction recovery; virtual reality therapy (VRT) provides almost life-like imaging, which can help treat clients with a variety of health conditions, addictions, and disorders. As emphasized by Forbes Magazine, VRT has been shown to assist with the following:
- Promoting actions towards wellness and prevention
- Emphasizing holistic activities that don’t involve painkillers
- Improving training for those on the healthcare team
- Heightened senses for clients as VRT reels them into a “reality”
- Reach out to underserved populations through use of telemedicine
Researchers are still assessing the effectiveness of VRT, but results are looking promising so far. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center to learn more about treatment programs and options that could best suit your recovery goals. It’s never too late to seek the help you need.
Tree House Recovery is a men’s treatment program in Portland, Oregon, offering men a unique way to recover. Inspired by the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest and the philosophies of proven recovery techniques, men create sustainable changes in their life, setting up a life without limitations. Call us today for information: (503) 850-2474
