LIFESTYLE AUTHOR
Monica Hand
HEALING THROUGH MUSIC n How one Austin treatment center is utilizing music to help people overcome addiction.
OCTOBER 2020
PHOTOS COURTESY OF RECOVERY UNPLUGGED AUSTIN
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s the science around addiction grows, it’s becoming more clear that, with the right help, everyone has hope for recovery. This comes as a stark contrast to what was traditionally thought about addiction: that it was merely a character flaw, not a disease. It wasn’t until a series of studies from the 1970s by Dr. Bruce K. Alexander, which found that rats preferred activities and connections over drug use, that the medical world began reshaping the idea of what causes addiction. Now, it’s widely understood that having outlets for a full life and supportive, healthy relationships are key aspects to overcoming addiction. Basing their program off this idea, Recovery Unplugged, an Austin rehab facility, is creating connections through their unique program that relies on the universality of music. The treatment center utilizes music in ways that opens clients up and allows them to feel safe, understood and able to connect with others. In the program, music and treatment are intertwined for clients from the very start. Before they even show up on-site, the staff at Recovery Unplugged already knows each client’s favorite type of music and their favorite songs or artists. “When we first pick them up or they fill out paperwork, that’s what we listen to,” Joseph Gorordo, vice president of business development for Recovery Unplugged, says. “If it’s the Death Tones, we’re listening to the Death Tones. Hearing familiar music automatically just puts your defenses down, opens you up a little.”
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