Sikh addiction treatment centers offer a wide selection of treatment services. Many of them are science-based with opportunities to incorporate Sikh practices and beliefs, while others are faith-based.
Inpatient or Residential Treatment
Inpatient treatment requires individuals to live in a care facility for the duration of treatment in order to provide 24/7 care.
Residential rehab is very structured with a daily schedule. Your schedule will include all of your treatment services, including faith-based ones, and will also likely have scheduled free time during which you can practice any additional religious exercises.
Medical Detox
Medical detoxification is offered in both inpatient and outpatient Sikh rehab programs. The purpose of this treatment service is to help your body process and get rid of any addictive substances.
Detox is performed at the beginning of treatment to ensure you start treatment sober. It’s important to seek out medical detox, as detoxing on your own can be incredibly dangerous.
Your care team is trained to monitor your vitals, help you manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and administer necessary medications during the detoxification process.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
You may also encounter medication-assisted treatment during your Sikh rehab program. MAT is a very effective, evidence based treatment that uses specific medications to treat addiction.
MAT is typically used for opioid addiction and alcohol addiction.
Your care provider will determine a dosage of prescribed medication to help manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings while decreasing the risk of relapse. Regular follow-ups are needed for MAT.
Outpatient Treatment
Many people enter an outpatient program after completing inpatient treatment or start in an outpatient program if they cannot live outside of their home for an extended period of time.
If you feel you need a higher level of care than outpatient but not quite as high as inpatient, you may opt for outpatient variations like intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) or partial hospitalization programs (PHPs).
Dual Diagnosis
Dual diagnosis is a special kind of addiction treatment offered at many facilities, including Sikh treatment centers.
In addiction, it is very common to also have a mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. Mental health issues can make addiction worse or even be the cause of addiction. That’s where dual diagnosis treatment comes in.
Dual diagnosis treats both the physical dependency of addiction and mental illness simultaneously through services like counseling and behavioral therapy.
Counseling and Behavioral Therapy
Counseling is a service that allows individuals to share their thoughts, emotions, and worries related to their journey either one-on-one or in a group. Behavioral therapy, on the other hand, is a type of talk therapy designed to adjust thought patterns and behavioral choices that worsen addiction and encourage drug or alcohol consumption.
Family therapy, which involves therapy between the individual and their family members, is also commonly offered.
Meditation, Prayer, and Other Sikh Practices
Sikh practices are a big focus in Sikh rehab programs. This includes meditation and prayer as practices but also involves upholding the three duties and Sikh commandments.
You may also have free time in your schedule which you can use for religious practices at your discretion.
There are many important beliefs associated with Sikhism, which is why it is vital that a recovery program respects and upholds them.
Important beliefs that treatment should follow includes the three duties:
- Nam Japna: devotion to God at all times
- Kirt Karna: live honestly, maintain integrity, and avoid gambling, begging, or
- working in the alcohol or tobacco industries
- Vand Chakna: charity and caring for others
There are also four commandments of Sikhism:
- Do not cut one’s hair
- Do not harm the body with tobacco or other intoxicants like drugs and alcohol
- Do not eat sacrificial meat
- Do not commit adultery
Sikh rehab programs follow the commandments and support the three duties throughout the recovery process.
Support Groups
Sikh recovery programs also often offer support groups, which are essentially group meetings for individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) to discuss their experiences and journey.
A popular support group format is 12-step meetings. Though 12-step meetings were originally designed with Christianity in mind, modern 12-step groups can be adjusted to other faiths.
Support groups are a great opportunity to build a community among your peers and even provide a sense of accountability as you make new friendships.