Why Dogs Treat Addiction better than Doctors

Animal assistance has become a very common and increasingly used form of treatment for many mental and physical illnesses. Service animals can be used in treatment for PTSD, anxiety and depression. Even some colleges will bring in service animals during stressful periods during the year and just let students sit there and pet the animals. As someone who has done this during finals week I can honestly say it is one of the best relaxation techniques. With all of the ways service animals can help, it is no wonder Animal- Assisted Therapy is becoming more popular in the treatment of drug addicts.

In many ways, Animal- Assisted Therapy is even more useful than traditional rehabilitation with a doctor. In this form of treatment, the animal, usually a dog, becomes a constant companion for the addict. This can help in two major ways. The first, is that the dog is not judgmental towards the patient, and will remain loyal once a bond has formed between them. The second is that the dog relies on the patient just as much as the patient relies on the dog. In many Animal- Assisted Therapy treatments, the patient is charged with caring for the dog. This gives a patient a responsibility to care for something, which can help keep their mind of the pains of withdrawal. 

Based on all that Animal- Assisted Therapy can do for addiction patients, it seems that this form of therapy is even better than traditional therapy with a doctor. Animals who participate in Animal- Assisted Therapy are trained, so they are not aggressive and can easily be assimilated into a patients life. The animals can also stay with the patient after they are released from a rehabilitation program. Keeping a support system is one of the biggest challenges faced by patients after they are released from care, and an animal would help this problem. The bottom line is that Animal- Assisted Therapy is one of the most successful forms of treatment for addicts.