The scourge of the opioid crisis in the United States has touched communities from coast to coast. The American Jewish community hasn’t been an exception. As more individuals are swept up into the throes of addiction, it falls to the community to provide support and help for those that need it. The question is, what kind of treatment provides the best hope for addicted persons to reclaim their lives? The answer may sound familiar to Jewish scholars and anyone steeped in the history of psychotherapy.
Tragedy Breeds Hope
Late in 1942, Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl and his family were swept up into the Nazi concentration camp system. By the time he was liberated by advancing American forces in 1945, his sister Stella was the only surviving member of his immediate family. Throughout his captivity, he worked as a physician and therapist at several camps. He strived to be a beacon of hope for others that were also forced to endure the horrors of the Holocaust.
Frankl went on to develop a psychiatric theory called Logotherapy, which he based upon his experiences while in captivity. The theory holds that a key aspect of human nature is the search for meaning in one’s life; a purpose that helps to carry us through suffering and tragedy. Frankl believed that this was the key to human happiness and the method through which anyone might harness their internal resources to achieve true fulfillment. It is precisely this line of thinking that animates the latest in addiction recovery treatment.
A Holistic Approach to Recovery
Dan Manson, CEO of Elevate Addiction Services advocates a similar approach to Frankl’s when providing help to the addicted. He and his team have developed a holistic approach to drug rehabilitation. It seeks to uncover the true reasons that their patients turned to drugs. Manson believes that simply treating the symptoms is short-sighted and won’t lead to permanent recovery. To end an addiction requires a meaningful change in the patient’s life, and it’s Elevate’s goal to facilitate that change.
Manson says that “We treat people in a way that brings the power back to themselves.” That’s how he encapsulates the treatment procedure employed at Elevate. By empowering patients to deal with the underlying issues that caused their addiction, they can find meaning in their lives. Manson sees that as the key to long-lasting success, saying “You can be sober and miserable. What we do is help people find their passion for life, so they want to be sober.” This is the very same thing that Viktor Frankl believed as well.
Help for Those Suffering Among Us
As the drug crisis reaches further and further into our community, it’s helpful to look to voices from our collective past, as well as to pioneers in the present. While the genesis of Frankl’s theory and that of Elevate’s treatment approach is quite different, they both depend on inspiring people to better themselves in order to find happiness. It’s in this way that today’s sad wave of drug addiction will end for good. If you or someone you love is suffering from this affliction, please guide them to the kind of help that will really give them the power to change their lives for the better.
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