Hollywood Mainstreaming Addiction Should Reduce Stigma

WEST ORANGE, N.J., Dec. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Addiction has always carried a stigma. An individual's (or family's) struggle with addiction, difficulty finding quality treatment or attempts at sobriety are rarely discussed openly. However, recent Hollywood movies like "Ben is Back," where addiction is a theme, should help change that perception. Indra Cidambi, M.D., a nationally recognized addiction expert and founder of Center for Network Therapy commented, "The attention is welcome, as it not only highlights the pervasiveness of addiction throughout the country, but also helps to humanize the disease and lessen the stigma associated with it."

Addressing different facets of addiction, these films highlight the fact that addiction touches everyone, regardless of social status, education or zip code. In "Ben is Back," Julia Roberts plays a mother who is the only one who thinks her son can live sober at home (after taking precautions), when he returns home unannounced from rehab on Christmas eve for a short stay.

"Without intending to, the film highlights the shortcomings of the incumbent, and dominant, treatment model - inpatient detoxification and rehab – where the patient receives treatment in a bubble, far from reality," said Dr. Cidambi. When the patient returns from treatment and faces the stressors in his/her living environment, the results are not predictable.

Integration between the patient's home and treatment

Outpatient detoxification for alcohol, benzodiazepines and opiates and continued outpatient treatment is often more successful because it integrates the home environment into treatment. Accessing treatment while in their real-life environment helps patients to learn coping skills and work through triggers in real time together with their treatment team.

"Further, outpatient treatment also helps to correct the perception that, somehow, addiction is a shameful behavioral problem, and those needing treatment be hidden away for extended periods until they learn to modify their 'behavior.' Such treatment plans are rarely employed with other chronic diseases, even contagious HIV," Dr. Cidambi continued.

These movies help underscore the message that, first and foremost, addiction is not a behavioral problem. It is a chronic disease! Repeated abuse of alcohol/drugs changes the circuitry in the brain, where the brain becomes dependent on the substance abused to stimulate the release of dopamine to feel pleasure. The brain's own triggers to release dopamine become suppressed and the individual suffering from addiction may feel depressed when not actively using. These changes take years to correct, leaving the individual susceptible to relapse.

Changing the way addiction is perceived by the public

"As more movies include addiction as a theme, it will be easier for addiction to be accepted as a disease that needs treatment," Dr. Cidambi stated. "It is through acceptance, compassion and non-stigmatizing treatment that we can make it easy for individuals to openly accept that they have a problem, and Hollywood giving the disease of addiction a starring role should help reverse the stigma."

Indra Cidambi, M.D., Medical Director, Center for Network Therapy, is a pioneer in Addiction Treatment. She introduced the Ambulatory Detoxification model for treating withdrawal from Alcohol, Benzodiazepines, and Opiates. She has a fellowship in addiction from NYU/Bellevue and is board certified in Addiction Medicine and Psychiatry.

About Center for Network Therapy (CNT)

CNT is New Jersey's first facility to be licensed to provide Ambulatory (Outpatient) Detoxification  and withdrawal management for all substances of abuse – alcohol, anesthetics, benzodiazepines, and opiates. Led by Board Certified Addiction Psychiatrist, Indra Cidambi, M.D., experienced physicians and nurses closely monitor patient's progress. With CNT's superior client care and high-quality treatment, Dr. Cidambi and her team have successfully detoxed over 1500 patients in five years.

SOURCE Center for Network Therapy

Related Links

www.recoverycnt.com