More About Holistic Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs
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.
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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.
Dealing with a drug or alcohol addiction can be challenging for the person who uses substances and for those in their life. Different rehab programs are available to help people achieve and maintain abstinence.
Holistic treatment is an approach to health care that sees you as a whole person to treat, not just your symptoms. Holistic medicine, or holism, addresses the whole person: psychological, familial, physical, societal, and spiritual. It looks at you as a whole being to treat, not as someone with singular, disconnected symptoms
What Is Holistic Addiction Treatment?
Holistic drug treatment incorporates complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices that focus on the health of the mind and body.(1) In substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, these practices are often used alongside traditional, evidence-based treatment methods.(1)
Holistic drug rehabs treat the whole person, not just the SUD, through different mind-body therapies, which typically serve as an adjunct to standard treatment.(2,3) The term holistic is often used to refer to a variety of practices in healthcare in general, which can include:(2)
- Complementary medicine, which means mind-body practices are used in addition to traditional medical care.
- Integrative practices, which combine conventional medical care with CAM practices.
- Alternative medical care, which typically means that CAM practices are used instead of conventional medical treatment.
Complementary and alternative medicine practices are increasingly used in healthcare, such as for pain management, SUDs, and other medical conditions, and can include practices such as diet, acupuncture, and meditation, but they are not intended to replace standard medical care.(1,3) However, they can be a helpful addition to traditional medical treatments.(1)
Traditional treatments are necessary to help people achieve recovery from SUDs, while CAM practices are intended to enhance a person’s recovery, and are generally found to be an enjoyable component of treatment.(3) Research has shown that CAM practices have been promising and are growing in popularity for SUD treatment, but more studies are needed to fully evaluate and confirm the effectiveness of many of these treatments.(1,3)
Holistic care for addiction sees you not as a person, not a disease. Treatment providers using holistic care address your addiction, its symptoms, and all other areas of your health at the same time. They’ll help you identify the cause of addiction, why you’re using it to cope, and how you can navigate difficult emotions in new ways.
Overall, holistic care aims to provide a highly comprehensive treatment experience. Rather than just addressing the visible symptoms of addiction, like being high, drunk, or emotionally volatile, holism reaches its cause. Holistic treatment focuses on the mind, body, and spirit to identify all areas of you that need healing.
Types of Holistic Treatment Programs
Holistic drug treatment centres can vary in programming depending on the specific rehab. They may use a variety of CAM services, some of which include:
- Nutrition and diet, which can involve the use of vitamins or supplements, or dietary guidance.(2)
- Acupuncture, an Eastern technique that uses thin, solid needles to stimulate specific points on the body; some research has shown that it may reduce drug-seeking behaviors because of its impact on the brain pathways associated with addiction and may help regulate associated neurotransmitters.(5)
- Mindfulness meditation, which teaches people how to cultivate mindful awareness and acceptance of the present moment.(3) Research has shown that it may provide different benefits, such as reducing SUD relapse and substance-related injuries.(1) Mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) is a specific type of therapy that teaches people mindfulness skills that can help them avoid falling back to old patterns of use.(3)
- Massage, which can help people relax and release muscle tension; some research has shown it may also help reduce certain alcohol withdrawal symptoms and anxiety associated with opioid, cocaine, and alcohol withdrawal.(3)
- Yoga, which can help reduce tension, reduce stress and tension, and help people develop mindfulness, which are known relapse risk factors.(3)
- Qi gong or tai chi, both of which combine breath work, movement, and mental focus; some research has shown that these may help reduce certain withdrawal symptoms associated with SUDs, but more studies are needed.(3)
- Nature, which involves spending time in a natural, outdoor setting to draw upon its healing power, has been shown to reduce stress and negative mood associated with SUD recovery.(6)
- Equine therapy, which involves engaging with horses and spending time in their natural environment; some research has shown that this therapy can help build self-esteem, improve a person’s mood, and encourage social interactions during SUD recovery.(7)
- Guided imagery, which can help people enter a calmer state.(3)
- Music or art therapy, which can help people relax and engage in an enjoyable, creative activity.(3)
People might wonder what the difference is between traditional rehab, holistic recovery programs, and hybrid formats that combine these approaches. The overall goals of rehab for SUDs are to help people stop or decrease substance use, recover normal social function, and reduce the risk of complications and relapse.(1)
However, different types of rehab may aim to accomplish these goals in somewhat different ways. Using certain CAM treatments can be an important component of both traditional and holistic treatment programs—a program does not have to be just one or the other.
In general, however, traditional rehab relies on evidence-based practices, such as behavioral therapy and medication, some holistic programs may just use CAM treatments, and hybrid formats often offer a combination of medical care, detox, behavioral therapies, and CAM treatments.(1,8)
What Are the Levels of Treatment at Holistic Addiction Treatment Centres?
People in addiction treatment have varying needs, and there are different levels of care to help people in the various stages of their recovery.(9) Generally speaking, the treatment process involves detox, rehab, and aftercare.(9) A person’s treatment process will vary depending on the substance they are admitted for and the facility they go to.(9)
The right level of care for a person’s needs will be determined during a comprehensive assessment with a team of addiction specialists, who will use diagnostic criteria outlined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) to formulate a diagnosis and to develop an individualized treatment plan.(10)
People can transition between different levels of care as necessary.(9) Typically, following detox, people enter inpatient or outpatient rehab, and there are also different levels of care within these domains.(9) The American Society of Addiction Medicine’s continuum of care includes:(11,12)
- Level 1 – Standard outpatient services, which involve less than 9 hours a week of treatment.
- Level 2.1 – Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), which include more than 9 hours per week of treatment.
- Level 2.5 – High-intensity outpatient (HIOP) programs, also known as partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), which involve 20 or more hours per week of treatment for people who do not require 24-hour care.
- Level 3 – Inpatient and residential services, which include clinically-managed services and medically-monitored services.
- Level 4 – Medically-managed intensive inpatient services, which provide 24-hour nursing and daily physician care.
As mentioned above, some treatment centres that incorporate holistic services may vary from traditional treatment in terms of offerings; for example, some may not include the use of medications and may solely rely on natural methods, but this is typically referred to as alternative care, whereas those that include medication and other standard medical practices are said to provide complementary care.(1,2)
Detoxification
Medically-supervised detox can be the first step in recovery for many people, and potentially lifesaving in some instances.(9) It involves a set of interventions designed to help people safely and comfortably withdraw from drugs or alcohol and become medically stable.(13) Detox, however, should not substitute for more comprehensive rehabilitation and treatment efforts.(9) The 3 key elements of the detoxification process include:
- Evaluation, where a person undergoes an assessment and testing for substances.(13)
- Stabilization, which is the actual detox process, and may involve the use of medications to ease the withdrawal symptoms that can occur from certain substances, such as opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol, barbiturates, and other sedatives.(9,13)
- Fostering patient readiness for and entry into treatment, which helps people become familiar with and stresses the importance of entering ongoing treatment after detox.(13)
Undergoing medical detox can be important for certain substances, such as alcohol or opioids, because of the dangers of certain withdrawal symptoms.(13) For example, quitting or reducing opioid use can lead to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that can be hard to withstand, and alcohol withdrawal can lead to potentially dangerous symptoms like seizures.(13)
Some substances, such as stimulants like cocaine, may not require medical detoxification, but medications may help alleviate or reduce certain withdrawal symptoms that can arise during the detox process and increase a person’s comfort.(13)
A holistic detox centre may incorporate certain holistic treatment services as a helpful adjunct during detox, such as nutritional interventions, meditation, yoga, guided imagery, acupuncture, or massage, as these can help decrease a person’s stress level, reduce negative mood, and help people relax.(3)
Inpatient/Residential Treatment
Inpatient or residential programs are different from outpatient treatment in that people live onsite and stay overnight.14 People receive 24/7 support and care and can fully focus on their recovery. Inpatient rehab can be useful for people with severe addictions or co-occurring disorders (such as anxiety or depression), those who lack a stable home environment, and those who otherwise require 24/7 supervision.(14)
Inpatient stays often range from 28 to 30 days, but they can last 90 days or longer.(9) An inpatient program and a person’s treatment plan should be personalized based on their unique needs, such as their level of addiction, mental and physical health, and other associated concerns.(9)
Holistic residential treatment centres may incorporate many of the CAM services mentioned above, such as art and music therapy, equine therapy, yoga classes, meditation, nutritional interventions, and massage.(3)
Outpatient Holistic Addiction Treatment Programs
An outpatient treatment program is different from an inpatient program because a person can continue to live at home, but they’ll need to attend rehab on a predetermined schedule to receive treatment.(14)
There are different levels of outpatient care, including intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and high-intensity outpatient/partial hospitalization programs (HIOPs/PHPs), which require treatment for several hours a day, most days of the week, to standard outpatient programs that may only provide treatment 1 to 3 times per week.(14)
Outpatient holistic addiction rehab may include different CAM therapies, such as art therapy, yoga, meditation, music therapy, acupuncture, and others.
How to Pay for a Holistic Rehab Program
Health insurance should cover at least part of the cost of treatment at a holistic rehab centre. Substance use treatment is an essential benefit, and the federal government requires that all Marketplace plans offer the same level of coverage for SUD and mental health treatment as they do for other medical and surgical care.(15)
Coverage can vary by plan, and you may need to take into account whether you have an HMO, which means you may need to use in-network providers, or PPO, which may mean that you pay less if you use a provider in the plan’s network.(16) People may also need to consider their co-pays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs.(17)
Finding Holistic Addiction Rehabs Near Me
No matter how things might seem right now, there is always hope, and people can and do recover from addiction. Effective addiction treatment can help people safely stop using substances, maintain abstinence, and resume happier, healthier lives.(9) Find a rehab treatment program near you today.
Sources
- Junyue, J., Siyu, C., Xindong, W., Qinge, X., Jingchun, Z., Liming, L., & Guohua, L. (2021). Complementary and alternative medicine for substance use disorders: a scientometric analysis and visualization of its use between 2001 and 2020. Frontiers in psychiatry, 12, 722240.
- National Cancer Institute. (2024, May 22). Complementary and alternative medicine.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022, March 10). Substance use disorder treatment: complementary approaches.
- Nahin, R. L., Rhee, A., & Stussman, B. (2024). Use of complementary health approaches overall and for pain management by US adults. JAMA, 331(7), 613–615.
- Lee, M. Y., Lee, B. H., Kim, H. Y., & Yang, C. H. (2021). Bidirectional role of acupuncture in the treatment of drug addiction. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 126, 382–397.
- Reynolds, L., Rogers, O., Benford, A., Ingwaldson, A., Vu, B., Holstege, T., & Alvarado, K. (2020). Virtual nature as an intervention for reducing stress and improving mood in people with substance use disorder. Journal of addiction, 2020, 1892390.
- Machová, K., Juríčková, V., Kasparová, A., Petrová, K., Sládková, B., & Svobodová, I. (2023). An evaluation of the effect of equine-facilitated psychotherapy on patients with substance use disorders. PloS one, 18(6), e0286867.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2023, September 25). Treatment and recovery.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2014). Principles of drug addiction treatment: a research-based guide (third edition).
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
- Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program. (2017). Overview of substance use disorder (SUD) care clinical guidelines: a resource for states developing SUD delivery system reform.
- American Society of Addiction Medicine. (n.d.). What is The ASAM Criteria?
- Centre for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2015). Detoxification and substance abuse treatment. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 45. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 15-4131. Rockville, MD: Centre for Substance Abuse Treatment.
- Centre for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2014). What is substance abuse treatment? A booklet for families. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4126. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Mental health & substance abuse coverage.
- Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Health insurance plan & network types: HMOs, PPOs, and more.
- FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). What to expect: paying for treatment.