Nutraceutical Treatments for Addiction Recovery

Current medical treatment in substance-use disorders and addiction recovery often fails to address the underlying molecular pathophysiologic mechanisms of addiction morbidity. Psychopharmacology and behavioral interventions do not directly address the cellular patterns of dysfunction in addiction but natural treatments can and should be employed in a research-based manner to support existing treatment protocols. Research into addiction pathophysiology is clear: removing the offending agent through sobriety is often not enough to restore natural premorbid physiology. Drug-induced oxidative stress and inflammation may inhibit full recovery by damaging molecular health, homeostasis, and neurological function. Prolonged activation of stress systems likely affects judgment during the “white-knuckle” stage of recovery. The author discusses research characterizing the following 3 functional categories of addiction pathophysiology: inflammation and antioxidant system degradation, stress system activation, and vitamin and mineral depletion patterns. Each section is followed by discussion of research-based natural treatments employed to support addiction recovery at the cellular level.