Table 3.
Discredited Techniques in Addiction Treatment
Certainly Discredited |
Electrical stimulation of the head |
Past-life therapy |
Electric shock therapy |
Psychedelic medication |
Ultra-rapid opioid detoxification under anesthesia for alcohol dependence |
Neuro-Linguistic Programming |
Scared Straight |
Stimulant medications for alcohol dependence |
Probably Discredited |
DARE prevention programs |
Synanon-style boot camps |
Apomorphine for alcohol dependence |
Lithium carbonate for alcohol dependence |
Electrical aversion therapy |
Beta-blocker for alcohol dependence |
Dopamine precursor for alcohol dependence |
Chlordiazepoxide for alcohol dependence |
Videotape self-confrontation |
Source: Fala et al. (2008)