Type specific EEG neurofeedback improves residential substance abuse treatment
An astonishing eighty-percent of recovering drug abusers resume drug use within months of discharging from treatment (Peniston & Kulkosky, 1989; Alterman et al., 1998; Morral et al., 1997). One of the factors contributing to poor expectable outcome of drug abusers freshly in recovery is brain instability. Due to their heavy and extensive use of psychoactive drugs, chronic substance abusers inevitably have created toxic alterations to their central nervous system and brain’s regulatory agencies. Many of the traditional stress management and coping strategies taught to the addicted person in treatment centers cannot take immediate hold until the individual stabilizes neurologically and emotionally and continues working an ongoing program of recovery. Put simply, many drug users are not neuro-biologically available for treatment during their initial residential treatment.
Neurofeedback is an optimal option for use in conjunction with traditional
forms of treatment with the substance dependent population due its wide range
of benefits for this populace.