More About Rehabs with Acupuncture Treatment
If the great outdoors bring you serenity, Canada—especially British Columbia—might be the best rehab option for you. We've compiled a list below of the best luxury, private rehabs throughout Canada offering drug rehab and addiction treatment of all kinds with both 12 Step and holistic programs.
While private treatment in Canada is still more affordable than many rehabs in the U.S., the Canadian government has put together a province by province hotline that can provide direction as well as government-funded options if the cost is restrictive.
Luxury Rehabs in Toronto | Private Clinics in Nova Scotia | Best Rehabs in British Columbia
Insurance Coverage
History & Background
In the mid-1960s, the U.S. and Canada each introduced their versions of Medicare, with the U.S. system covering seniors and those with certain health conditions, facing industry backlash. Canada's system, praised for its inclusivity, allows all Canadians access, though provinces decide on necessary services. What is the difference between the US and Canada? The U.S. funds Medicare through payroll taxes, whereas Canada's publicly funded, single-payer system covers healthcare costs, highlighting significant differences in funding and coverage between the two nations.
The Canadian Health Act (CHA) aims to ensure the health and well-being of Canada's residents by providing equitable access to health services without financial obstacles. It sets conditions for provinces and territories to receive federal funds, emphasizing prepaid access to necessary health services to all eligible Canadians, thereby removing direct service charges. This framework is foundational to Canada's health policy, focusing on protecting and promoting physical and mental health.
How does Canadian Medicare Work?
Canada's Medicare system, a publicly funded healthcare structure, comprises 13 provincial and territorial plans, offering residents access to essential medical services without direct charges. Healthcare responsibilities are divided, with provinces and territories managing service delivery, while the federal government sets national standards, provides funding, and caters to specific groups under the Canada Health Act. This collaborative framework ensures universal healthcare coverage across the country.
It is important to note that Canadian Medicare, funded by federal and provincial taxes, may not cover all medical expenses, leading to additional out-of-pocket costs for dental and vision care services. While public health insurance eliminates deductibles, Canadians still contribute through taxes, averaging $5,789 annually per the Fraser Institute. This system ensures higher earners contribute more, supporting more affordable healthcare access for lower-income families and offering a cost-effective approach compared to the average American's health expenditure.
Generally speaking, according to the Government of Canada, the federal government is responsible for:
•Setting and administering national standards for the health care system through the Canada Health Act
•Providing funding support for provincial and territorial health care services
•Supporting the delivery of health care services to specific groups
•Providing other health-related functions
Public & Private Payment Options
In Canada, accessing timely, affordable, and effective drug and alcohol addiction treatment is feasible, with options for both publicly and privately funded treatments available. While the country's Medicare system covers addiction and psychiatric disorders, allowing for free treatment at public centres, these can have long wait times due to limited availability. Conversely, private centres offer quicker access but at a higher cost, either out-of-pocket or through insurance. It's crucial for individuals seeking rehab in Canada to carefully consider their treatment preferences and make an informed choice between public and private care options.
The 4 Pillars of Care
The Canadian approach to substance use and addiction encompasses what is referred to as the 4 pillars, which include prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and enforcement. Treatment options vary, including outpatient services in community settings, inpatient care for those with additional health issues, residential rehab for complex addictions, withdrawal management centres for safe detox, and continuing care to support long-term recovery. Each setting caters to different needs, ensuring individuals receive tailored support.
Care for Diverse Communities
In Canada, addiction treatment is tailored to diverse communities, including culturally informed programs for Indigenous populations, specialized services for veterans facing trauma and addiction, and initiatives by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) for broader substance misuse challenges. These efforts are supported by government and non-governmental organizations to ensure accessible, culturally sensitive, and effective treatment and support across the nation.
The Canadian Health Act (CHA) and Canada's Medicare system work together to provide residents with equitable, universal healthcare, emphasizing accessibility without financial barriers. Managed by provincial and territorial governments with federal oversight, this system covers essential services, though some, like dental and vision care, may incur out-of-pocket costs. It's designed to be affordable, with a tax structure with higher earners contributing more to ensure lower-income families can access care, aiming to be a cost-effective healthcare solution.
In Canada, addiction treatment is tailored to diverse communities, including culturally informed programs for Indigenous populations, specialized services for veterans facing trauma and addiction, and initiatives by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) for broader substance misuse challenges. These efforts are supported by government and non-governmental organizations to ensure accessible, culturally sensitive, and effective treatment and support across the nation.
Acupuncture is becoming a complementary treatment in many types of addiction recovery programs. Auricular or ear acupuncture is a popular form of this treatment that involves shallow insertion of a thin needle at various points on the skin of the external ear to help ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture originated in China and involves inserting needles into the skin in specific locations. It is used as a complementary and alternative treatment for a number of physical and mental ailments, including drug and alcohol addiction.(1) The Chinese have used acupuncture for centuries. But it has recently become a common practice in Western countries as well.(1)
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Auricular or ear acupuncture is the most popular form of acupuncture used to help people with addiction.(1) The acupuncture specialist inserts a thin needle into the person’s ear and targets 5 specific areas:(1,2)
- Lung Point: improves lung function and alleviates feelings of grief.
- Liver Point: removes toxins from the liver and blood, and curbs aggression.
- Kidney Point: repairs vital organs and eases fears.
- Shen Men: decreases anxiety – also known as the “spirit gate.”
- The Autonomic (or Sympathetic) Point: promotes relaxation and soothing of the nervous system.
Acupuncture is based on the idea that the human body has meridians spread throughout it. When these are stimulated, they can increase the flow of Qi (life energy). Organ function is believed to improve when it becomes unobstructed.(1)
Is Acupuncture Effective?
While the research behind acupuncture has mixed results, it’s an ancient Chinese medicine that has stood the test of time. Acupuncture can provide great benefits, or there is a possibility to experience a placebo effect. Some studies have suggested that patients may experience symptom relief because they have positive expectations; however, this does not necessarily mean that acupuncture is ineffective. It all depends on a few factors, like the quality of the practitioner, how it’s combined with other therapies, and your condition(s).
Does Acupuncture Help in Addiction Treatment?
Acupuncture is both safe and cost-effective. When combined with other forms of treatment, such as individual therapy, group counseling, and support groups, it can benefit those suffering from a substance addiction.
Goals of Acupuncture
Proponents of acupuncture claim that the practice can:(1)
- Help reduce cravings.
- Increase patient retention in rehab.
- Ease unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
- Ease physical pain.
- Help the person regulate emotions.
- Decrease anxiety and stress.
- Help regulate sleep.
Benefits of Acupuncture for Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery
It’s not fully understood how acupuncture works. But it is believed to affect the dopaminergic system in the brain. Drugs positively reinforce continued use by inducing feelings of pleasure and euphoria and negatively reinforce it by suppressing withdrawal symptoms, such as dysphoria. Acupuncture is believed to decrease the positive and negative reinforcements of addiction and therefore reduce drug and alcohol use.(1)
Acupuncture treatments are thought to reduce the positive reinforcement properties of drugs by decreasing the amount of dopamine released when the drug is used. Without the surge of dopamine, the person’s “high” or “buzz” is diminished, and he or she is less likely to use the drug in the future.(1)
Conversely, it is believed that acupuncture treatments decrease the withdrawal properties of drugs, such as dysphoria and distress, that serve to negatively reinforce continued drug use (since an individual might otherwise disrupt withdrawal with more of the misused drug), by inhibiting gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons and increasing the release of dopamine. This flood of dopamine into the nucleus accumbens in the brain can improve mood and alleviate withdrawal symptoms.(1)
Research is mixed on acupuncture’s effectiveness in treating drug and alcohol addiction. Acupuncture also appears to be more effective at treating certain substance addictions than others.
- One study revealed that acupuncture helped to alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms. But it didn’t benefit those withdrawing from alcohol or cocaine.(3)
- An additional study didn’t find any positive correlation between acupuncture treatment and recovery from cocaine addiction.(4)
- Clinical trials revealed that acupuncture helped ease alcohol withdrawal symptoms in rats, which could pave the way for future research in humans suffering from alcohol addiction.(5)
Use of Acupuncture in Addiction Treatment Programs
Holistic recovery centres are designed to treat the whole person by improving physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. The treatments provided at these rehab centres are considered alternatives to mainstream or traditional treatments, such as counseling, therapy, and medication.
Holistic recovery centres, as well as other rehabs, may incorporate acupuncture into their treatment programs. This alternative treatment can be a part of an individualized treatment plan that addresses a person’s specific needs for recovery and mental health. Acupuncture is not a standalone treatment for a substance addiction. It is used in combination with other recovery strategies, such as psychotherapy, 12-step programs, group counseling, or other alternative and complementary treatments, such as art or music therapy, meditation, nutritional counseling, exercise programs, or yoga.
Group and Individual Treatments
In treatment facilities, staff who are certified in the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) protocol will often administer auricular acupuncture. NADA has created a standardized treatment protocol for acupuncture and provides acupuncture training to medical and mental health professionals.(7) The treatment typically lasts for about 30 minutes or more while the person is in a relaxed state.(2) It can be given in group settings where people sit quietly together while needles are inserted into the 5 specific points in the ear. Some centres may conduct individual acupuncture treatments as well.
Remember that everyone’s journey in recovery is unique. What works well for one person might not work the same for another. The key is to maintain open communication, prioritize evidence-based treatments, and approach complementary therapies like acupuncture as part of a holistic approach to health and healing.