Overview

The Integrative Health approach can be built around the Circle of Health, which emphasizes the importance of personalized, values-based care that draws in mindful awareness and eight areas of self-care: Physical Activity, Surroundings, Personal Development, Nutrition, Recharge, Family, Friends and Coworkers, Spirit & Soul, and Mind and Emotions.  Conventional therapies, prevention, complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches, and community also have important roles.  The narrative below describes how Integrative Health can support people with various substance use disorders.

Depending on individual needs, an Integrative Health approach to substance use disorders may vary greatly from person to person.  A person’s health plan may incorporate a variety of self-care, conventional care, and complementary health approaches, as described below.  Mind-body approaches (including an array of specific psychotherapies developed for substance use disorders), medical therapies, spirituality, nutrition, and an array of other approaches may be helpful.

Meet the Patient

David is a 30-year-old man who went to see his primary care provider because his life is “falling apart.”  He shared that he “just can’t seem to get his act together,” and as a result, his relationships with his wife and 8-year-old daughter have been strained. He disclosed he is not satisfied with his job and longs for the sense of purpose and feeling of camaraderie he had back in college, when he had “more freedom.”  He stated he has been having difficulty getting into a routine of regular physical activities and wishes he had buddies to work out with.  He shared that he has only been able to get 6 hours of sleep on a good night, sometimes waking up a few times per night, and sometimes going for a hike at night in the woods to clear his mind.  He feels stressed all the time.  He is looking for help with sleep and stress coping, and for relief from the nightmares he has been having for the past year about casualties that had occurred during his last deployment.

As part of his exam, a brief substance use screening revealed unhealthy substance use, including, on average, 4-6 drinks per day and recent occasional use of illicitly-obtained opioid pain medications.  He also smokes two packs of cigarettes per day.  Upon further exploration, David reported he is using alcohol and opioids to help cope with the difficulties of his transition to civilian life, sleep problems, and nightmares that seem to be more frequent lately.