Is Substance Use Affecting Your Daily Life?
Substance use can impact daily life in many ways, whether you’re turning to substances more frequently during stressful moments, dealing with an existing addiction, or currently in recovery. Recognizing how substance use affects your life is an important step toward managing your well-being.
There are a variety of alternative treatments that can help individuals on their recovery journey. Approaches like acupuncture, chiropractic care, occupational therapy, and physical therapy offer holistic support, addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of addiction recovery. These therapies work alongside traditional treatments, promoting healing, reducing cravings, and enhancing overall well-being.
Understanding Addiction and Its Impact
What is Addiction?
Addiction is a condition where a person feels a strong, uncontrollable urge to use substances, even though it causes harm to their health, relationships, or other areas of life. Over time, addiction can cause changes in the brain, making it more difficult to break the cycle of behavior. It is considered a mental health issue and can result in significant physical, emotional, social, and financial challenges.
What Is Substance Use Disorder (SUD)?
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a complex condition in which a person continues to use a substance, such as alcohol or drugs, even when it causes harm. Those with SUD often focus intensely on the substance, sometimes to the point where it disrupts their ability to function normally in everyday life. Despite knowing the consequences, they continue using the substance.
Chronic pain is common among individuals with substance use disorders, with research indicating that 50-60% of individuals in this group suffer from it. The connection between substance use and pain is complex and works in both directions. Some individuals may turn to substances as a way to cope with chronic pain, while others may become more sensitive to pain as a result of their substance use.
How SUD Affects the Brain
Repeated substance use can alter how the brain functions, with these changes often lasting even after the effects of the substance have worn off. This can lead to tolerance, meaning a person needs more of the substance to achieve the same effects. Withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety and intense cravings, may also occur when the substance is stopped.
How Do Substance Use Disorder and Addiction Differ?
Substance use disorder (SUD) and addiction are closely related, but they are not the same. Both are part of the mental health and substance abuse areas, but they differ in how they are defined and understood.
Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
SUD is a clinically diagnosed condition characterized by:
- Uncontrolled use of a substance despite harmful consequences
- A range of severity levels, from mild to severe
- Specific diagnostic criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
Characteristics of Addiction
Addiction involves a range of behaviors and physical changes that impact an individual’s ability to function normally.
These characteristics often manifest in the following ways:
- An overwhelming urge to use substances that can become habit-forming
- Tolerance development
- Well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal
- Behavioral dysregulation and difficulty controlling consumption
- Potential emotional instability and cognitive dysfunction
Complementary Therapies in Addiction Treatment
Incorporating complementary therapies into addiction treatment provides additional recovery support when combined with traditional methods. These approaches address physical and emotional challenges, helping individuals heal holistically.
Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractic adjustments are primarily recognized for their effectiveness in managing musculoskeletal pain, but emerging research suggests they may also play a supportive role in addiction treatment.
How Does Chiropractic Care Help with Addiction?
Chiropractic adjustments aim to correct misalignments in the spine that can interfere with nervous system function. By improving spinal alignment, these adjustments promote better communication between the brain and body, which may help manage stress and withdrawal symptoms.
Key Benefits for Recovery
- Drug-Free Pain Relief: Chiropractic care provides a natural alternative for managing chronic pain, which is common in individuals recovering from addiction.
- Stress Management: Adjustments may help reduce tension in the body, promoting relaxation and emotional balance.
- Improved Nervous System Health: Chiropractic care can help regulate the nervous system, easing symptoms of anxiety and depression that often occur in recovery.
Acupuncture as a Tool for Addiction Treatment
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture involves placing thin needles at specific points on the body to stimulate healing and balance. Research shows it can help release endorphins—natural chemicals that reduce pain and improve mood.
At Prestige Health and Wellness in New York City, we offer a variety of acupuncture techniques tailored to individual needs, including traditional Chinese acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and auricular acupuncture.
How Can Acupuncture Help with Addiction?
Acupuncture is often used in addiction recovery to help ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. Many people find that it promotes relaxation, which can make it easier to manage emotional distress during recovery.
For those with substance use disorders (SUD), physical pain—especially chronic musculoskeletal pain—can complicate recovery. Acupuncture has been shown to effectively reduce pain, making the recovery process smoother.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points in the body to influence the central nervous system (CNS) and restore balance. This is especially helpful during addiction recovery, when the body’s natural balance may be disrupted.
Research from Peking University has shown that acupuncture triggers the release of natural, pain-relieving chemicals called opioid-like peptides, such as endorphins and enkephalins. These chemicals help manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce pain, making recovery less physically taxing.
Ear Acupuncture for Addiction: The NADA Protocol

Auricular acupuncture, or ear acupuncture, is a specialized technique used in addiction treatment. One widely used approach is the NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) protocol, which targets five specific points on the ear. Each point is connected to a different part of the body and plays a role in improving overall functioning:
- Lung Point
- Liver Point
- Kidney Point
- Sympathetic/Autonomic Point (nervous system)
- Shen Men Point (decreases anxiety.
Benefits of Acupuncture in Addiction Recovery
- Reduced Stress: Acupuncture helps calm the nervous system, making it especially helpful for managing withdrawal-related stress.
- Reduced Cravings: Acupuncture has been shown to reduce cravings for substances like nicotine, drugs, and alcohol.
- Improved Sleep: Many individuals in recovery face sleep challenges, and acupuncture may help promote better rest.
- Support for Mental Health: By encouraging relaxation, acupuncture can aid in managing anxiety and regulating mood.
Not a Standalone Solution
Acupuncture can be a helpful addition to addiction recovery programs, but it is not a complete solution on its own. It works best when combined with evidence-based medical and psychological treatments to address the physical, emotional, and behavioral aspects of addiction.
Understanding Occupational Therapy in Addiction Treatment
Occupational therapy focuses on helping individuals rebuild daily routines and skills disrupted by addiction.
How OT Helps in Addiction Recovery
OT can help individuals in addiction recovery in a variety of ways:
- Establishing Structure: OT helps create routines that support sobriety, like managing work, personal care, and leisure.
- Building Life Skills: Therapists teach practical skills, such as cooking, budgeting, and time management, to promote independence.
- Addressing Triggers: Therapists work with individuals to identify triggers and develop healthy coping strategies.
- Improving Social Connections: OT supports rebuilding relationships and creating a supportive network.
Physical Therapy in Addiction Recovery
Physical therapy (PT) focuses on improving physical health, which is an important part of addiction recovery, especially for those dealing with pain or physical limitations.
Benefits of PT in Recovery

- Drug-Free Pain Relief: PT uses techniques like exercise and manual therapy to manage pain without medication.
- Stress Reduction: Regular physical activity reduces stress and boosts emotional resilience.
- Improved Mobility and Energy: PT helps restore strength and movement, increasing confidence and overall well-being.
- Addressing Physical Issues: It can resolve pain or injuries that may have contributed to substance use.
Why an Integrative Approach Works
Therapies like chiropractic care, acupuncture, OT, and PT, alongside traditional treatment, offer a well-rounded recovery plan. Together, they address the physical, emotional, and social aspects of addiction, helping individuals regain control of their lives.
Contact Us
At Prestige Health and Wellness, we personalize treatment plans to support every stage of recovery. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you or your loved one achieve lasting sobriety at one of our four NYC locations: Hudson Yards, the Financial District, Chelsea, or Nomad. Let our expert team develop a personalized treatment plan for you.
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