Addiction – The importance of seeing the big picture.

When one approaches treatment of addiction from a single point of view there is little chance of dealing with the issue. An example is the treatment of heroin addiction. Typical medical practice involves the substitution of the heroin with methadone.

Statistically this can appear successful. Is the addict still using heroin? No. Is the addict helped? Well, they no longer need to rob houses to pay for their habit, but they now have a methadone addiction and are doing just as much harm to their health. Statistically it is 100% effective, but actually it has done little to help the patient. Superficially it could be said to be a success. The causes of the addiction remain untreated.

As in the video to the left, run by the Guardian Newspaper in Britain, the big picture is not only important – it is essential to the understanding of the problem. An approach is required that impacts every aspect of lifestyle, physical and emotional health, and involves change in almost every aspect of the subjects life. Only then can they reinvent themselves and step into the life they should be living.