"In the 21st century, treatment of alcoholism and drug addictions, and all their accompanying symptoms: depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, mood swings..., will focus primarily on physical repair by restoring biochemical balance."
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Our approach to alcoholism is based on science, more specifically orthomolecular medicine. As you look through our pages, know that we welcome your thoughts and observations. Our e-mail address is hrc@healthrecovery.com |
Perhaps you've heard that excessive drinking is a character defect--- decadent behavior brought on by a lack of self-control. Proponents of this philosophy champion the psychological approach to treatment. The success rate for this approach is less than 20% after a one year review ... about as successful as no treatment at all.
Then there's Alcoholics Anonymous. A wonderful network of psychological support for alcoholics. Their success rate is unknown; however, we do know that AA members represent less than 4% of the alcoholics in the USA. Regardless of how you feel about AA, one truth should be noted: physical symptoms caused by the biochemical disruption of alcohol abuse are not corrected by attending meetings or calling sponsors. Alcoholics who chose to do no more than attend AA meetings to maintain sobriety may indeed never take another drink, however, they will also suffer with many "physical" symptoms of a disrupted biochemistry: cravings, anxiety, depression, insomnia, mood swings, etc ... unless they take steps to correct the damage done to their bodies and brains. From a physical standpoint, AA's 12 step philosophy offers nothing but many painful years of "white knuckling' it".But take heart!
The latest approach to treat alcoholism is based on a new scientific understanding of the disease as a disruption to the biochemistry. For 20 years Health Recovery Center has pioneered and carefully perfected a new approach to treatment known as biochemical restoration. Recovery due to this form of treatment has proven to be far more successful than anyone had imagined: 74% success rate in a recent 2-31/2 year follow-up study. In addition, symptoms associated with alcoholism: cravings, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, etc., are usually eliminated or greatly reduced.
Imagine... an end to cravings, depression, and emotional instability while restoring optimal health.
At Health Recovery Center, this concept is both achievable and predictable; we back it up with:
- A New Understanding
- A New Approach
- Proven Results
Our Mission
Alcoholism is a physical disease. Alcohol and drugs are powerful chemicals. They disrupt and alter brain chemistry and body systems. (This is affirmed by hundreds of research papers.) This damage requires specific biochemical repair, as well as therapy.
Not All are Vulnerable. Problems with alcohol and drugs occur in people with unique chemistry inherited through genetics. Problems do "run in families." (There are at least 3 "types" specifically at risk to alcohol.)
"Loss of Control" is Real. In alcoholics, ongoing use alters brain chemistry, causing addiction for which willpower is no match. Willpower can't lift depression or stop cravings caused by chemical disruption. Anxiety, irritability, mental confusion, and irrational thinking are often caused by physical disruption of the brain and central nervous system. "Talk cannot reverse these conditions... biochemical repair must occur."The AMA and World Health Organization define alcoholism as a physical disease. A Federal Verdict in 1982 ruled, "Alcoholism is a physical disease and not a mental disorder ...This court is unaware of any disease that so directly and persistently results in death." (3rd leading cause of death in the US).
Who We ServeOur programs serve persons 16 years and older whose dependency on alcohol and/or drugs causes physiological or psychological distress. A no cost, initial assessment is offered by appointment.
Our Program
A new approach focuses on major Biochemical Renewal. HRC has pioneered a powerful addition of biochemical repair and restoration. Brain/body health and stability are restored and control is regained. In conjunction with our physician, HRC assesses and restores physical health via medical appointments, laboratory tests, and nutritional counseling.
Positive and Caring Counseling: The Rational Emotive Therapy used at HRC leads individuals to self-awareness and personal understanding. They learn effective tools to take control of responsible decision making, while rebuilding a sense of self worth. HRC conducts all group sessions in a supportive, non-confrontive style.
Extensive Individual Work: Each person is unique biochemically as well as psychologically. Individual weekly counseling sessions allow client/counselor to determine needs in order to set, monitor, and achieve individual goals.
Unique Family Support: Weekly lectures and group meetings are built around family involvement. In non-confrontive ways, families discover new understandings as well as traits "common" to members with shared genetics. Much relief comes from learning specific and reversible reasons for the many behaviors they have struggled with.
Treatment that Works! With this new understanding and the added element of biochemical repair, success is predictable and certain for most.
Our Results
Since the program's inception in 1981: One year follow-ups have consistently yielded "abstinent and stable" outcomes for most of our graduates. Our long term follow-up study, (published in the International Journal of Bio-social and Medical Research) yielded "abstinent and stable results" at 1 to 3 1/2 years for 74% of the graduates...far above the success results attained by conventional treatment.
What Research has Shown: Conventional "talk therapy" treatment alone yields far less effective results than treatment including biochemical repair. The consistent findings of hundreds of studies published over the last two decades yield abstinence-at-follow-up results no better than 20 - 25%.
Total Health Restoration: By using specific bio-chemical repair, more than abstinence is achieved. A wide rage of symptoms (cravings, depression anxiety, mental confusion, fatigue, and more) are eliminated. Other health changes also occur (i.e., blood pressure normalizes, allergies clear, medications may become unnecessary, stamina and energy improve).
Gerald and G. Saenger, "The Abstinent
Alcoholic", Archives of General Psychiatry 6
(1962): pp 83- 95.
C. D. Emrich, "A Review of Psychologically
Oriented Treatments of Alcoholism, I"
Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol 35,
No. 2 (1974): pp 523- 549.
C. D. Emrich, "A Review of Psychologically
Oriented Treatments of Alcoholism, II"
Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol 36,
(1975): pp 88- 107.
V. Polick, D. Aarmor and H. Bracker, "The
Course of Alcoholism, Four Years after
Treatment", Santa Monica: Rand Corp.,
(1980): pp 169- 70.
George Vaillant, "The Natural History of
Alcoholism", Cambridge Harvard Press
(1983): pp 285.
K. Powell, E. Penick, M. Read & A. Ludwig,
"Comparison of three outpatient treatment
Interventions: A 12 month follow-up of male
alcoholics", Journal of Studies on Alcohol,
Vol. 46, No. 4 (1985): (KC VA Study).
J. Mathews-Larson and B. Parker,
"Alcoholism Treatment with biomedical/biochemical
Restoration as a Major Component",
International Journal of Biosocial and Medical
Research 9, No. 1 (1987) : pp 92- 100.
J. D. Beasley, et al "Follow-up of a Cohort
of Alcoholic Patients thru 12 months of
Comprehensive Bio-behavioral Treatment",
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment,
Vol. 8, No. 2. May, (1991).D.
Our Staff
Director:
Joan Mathews-Larson, Ph.D., CCDP, LADC.
The Executive Director and founder of Health Recovery Center. Published author of the books:
- Alcoholism, the Biochemical Connection. Villard/Random House, ©1991; Seven Weeks to Sobriety, Ballantine Publishing Group, ©1992, updated copyright ©1997.
- Seven Weeks to Emotional Healing, Ballantine Publishing Group, ©1999; Depression Free, Naturally, Ballantine Publishing Group, ©1999, updated copyright ©2001.
Counselors:
All Health Recovery Center Counselors are certified as Chemical Dependency Counselors or Practitioners. All have specialized training in the HRC method of biochemical restoration.
Medical Personal:
Health Recovery Center has an on-staff physician who supervises each client throughout primary care. HRC also contracts with a psychiatrist who serves as a consultant to the program. Registered nurses and lab technicians assist our medical personnel.
If you would llike additional information about our program, please complete our confidential inquiry request form.Additional information about the cost of the program, qualifying insurance, and other questions concerning the structure of HRC's program can be answered by the HRC business office. Their telephone number is 1-800-554-9155 or 1-888-988-6889* or you may e-mail them at businessoffice@healthrecovery.com
Information on this web page is reproduced and reprinted from brochures and promotional materials of Health Recovery Center, Inc. Copyright ©2001. All rights reserved. This information may not be reproduced without permission from Health Recovery Inc. & Joan Mathews Larson, Ph.D.
Anyone wishing may link their site to the information found on this site. For a reciprocal link call 612-827-7800.
* HRC does not have a service center in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Callers from these states will be directed to Innerbalance in Fort Collins, Colorado, which offers a drug and alcohol treatment program using biochemical restoration and repair.
3255 Hennepin Av S
Minneapolis, MN 55408
toll-free: 1-800-554-9155 or 1-888-988-6889*
local: (612) 827-7800
fax: (612) 827-1948
Hours: 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM (CST)
Monday thru Friday
* HRC does not have a service center in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Callers from these states will be directed to Innerbalance in Fort Collins, Colorado, which offers a drug and alcohol treatment program using biochemical restoration and repair.
Click on Physical Restoration for
Alcoholics & Drug Addicts
for additional information about the
Health Recovery Addiction Program
Seven Weeks to Sobriety: Testimonials | Joan's story | The Best-Kept Secret | Its Not All In Your Mind | The Difference in Drinkers | Alcoholism's Genetic Link
Replacement Formulas: Aggression, Anger, and Irritability | Anxiety | Fatigue | Insomnia | Memory loss | Pain Control | Stress | Tremors/ Shakiness | Short Attention Span / Poor Concentration | Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Biochemical Traps That Block Recovery: Test Yourself for Chemical Sensitivities | How to Turn Off Chemical Reactions | Food Allergies | Compulsive Eating Disorders | The Elimination Diet | Breaking Food Allergy /Addiction | Total Load Concept of Stress | Building-Block Theory of Immune System Breakdown from Stress Overload | Candida Albicans | The Nature of the Yeast | Alcoholics and Candida | Treating Candida
Liver Repair, Histamine & Thyroid: | Liver Repair | Thyroid Function | Serum Zinc | Serum Histamine | Paranoia/Low Histamine | High Histamine | Compulsive/Obsessiveness
Biochemical Depression: | How Can You Tell If You Are Depressed | The 7 Kinds of
Alcoholic Depression | Neurotransmitter Depletion and Depression | A Word of Caution
About 5-HTP Tryptophan | St.-John's-Wort (Hypericum) | Unavailability of Prostaglandin E, and Depression | Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency and Depression | Hypothyroidism and Depression | Hypoglycemia and Depression | Food and Chemical Allergies and Depression | Candida-Related Complex and Depression | Suicide and DepressionCorrecting Chemistry: Hypoglycemia and Alcoholism: Glucose Patterns in Health Recovery Center Clients | Hypoglycemic Symptoms | The Hypoglycemic Cycle | The Role of the Adrenals | The Dry-Drunk Syndrome = Masked Hypoglycemia | Controlling Hypoglycemia | The Diet | Key Nutrients That Block Sugar Cravings | Caffeine and Nicotine Have to Go | The HRC Hypoglycemic (Anti-allergy) Diet for Alcoholics | Shopping Tips | Meal Preparation Tips
Planning The Future: Physical Strategies That Heal | Kicking the Cigarette Habit | Your Diet During Recovery | The Rewards of Exercise | Your Maintenance Nutrient Program | Psychological Strategies That Work | Build Yourself a Support System
