The title might surprise you: Can RLT help with addiction problems? Well, there’s a good deal of evidence suggesting it can. We all have relatives, friends, or acquaintances struggling with various forms of addiction, and perhaps you’ve been affected yourself. Since addictions can be immensely destructive to a person’s life, all available means should be considered.
Some people drink too much alcohol, others consume pills excessively, some have a sex addiction, and others spend their monthly budget on shopping in a matter of hours. Others get trapped in gambling to such an extent that it affects their work and education, while some have entirely different demons clamoring for attention. Developing addictions is a human trait, as they are rooted in survival instincts. However, when life becomes unbalanced, and we don’t feel well, these instincts can lead to potentially life-threatening situations.
RLT should be seen as a complement to other treatments, and its effectiveness may vary depending on the trigger of the addiction. In a study involving 53 alcoholics, it was observed that 20 treatments spread over as many days improved their well-being and increased endorphin levels in their blood (1). An increase in endorphin levels logically means that it could take the edge off cravings, which might also apply to heavier drugs (opioids) and food/sugar addictions. The treatment did not eliminate addiction, but it made it a bit easier to resist. The craving for opioids has also been shown to decrease with red light therapy, and in these cases, direct brain treatment was involved (2, 3, 4). These studies have also noted reduced anxiety and less depression, without any side effects. Even if you’re not addicted to sugar (there are clear psychological criteria for this), you might be a “sugar lover” who occasionally overindulges and is surprised when a freshly opened package of cookies suddenly disappears. Some might swing by the nearest convenience store for a snack like a muffin or focaccia, not because they’re hungry but because it tastes good. For these individuals, I believe RLT can also have a function as it calms, provides endorphins, and offers satisfaction without external stimuli.
- Jadwiga Zalewska-Kaszubska 1, Dominik Obzejta. Use of low-energy laser as adjunct treatment of alcohol addiction. Lasers Med Sci. 2004;19(2):100-4. doi: 10.1007/s10103-004-0307-9.
Use of low-energy laser as adjunct treatment of alcohol addiction – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Fredric Schiffer 1 2 3, Alaptagin Khan 2 3, Elizabeth Bolger 2, Edward Flynn 1, William P Seltzer 1, Martin H Teicher 2 3. An Effective and Safe Novel Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: Unilateral Transcranial Photobiomodulation. Front Psychiatry. 2021 Aug 10;12:713686. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.713686. eCollection 2021.
- Fredric Schiffer 1 2, William Reichmann 3, Edward Flynn 1, Michael R Hamblin 4 5, Hannah McCormack 1. A Novel Treatment of Opioid Cravings With an Effect Size of .73 for Unilateral Transcranial Photobiomodulation Over Sham. Front Psychiatry. 2020 Aug 19;11:827. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00827. eCollection 2020.
- Fredric Schiffer 1. Unilateral transcranial photobiomodulation for opioid addiction in a clinical practice: A clinical overview and case series. J Psychiatr Res. 2021 Jan;133:134-141. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.12.004. Epub 2020 Dec 3.
Author: Fredrik Paulún
