Animal therapists help with drug therapy

Animal therapists: Drug clinic relies on dogs and cats for long-term therapy

16/12/2014

A drug rehabilitation clinic in Ticino, Mecklenburg, has recently broken new ground in the treatment of addicts. The patients are allowed to bring their animals to the therapy. They help to sustain the therapy and give hope and attention.

Animal-assisted therapies have been offered by the clinic for 10 years. So far, however, only a kennel husbandry of four-legged friends was allowed. This has now changed after reconstruction. The animals are integrated into the treatment and may be taken by the patients to the specially converted rooms. For example, Loft beds built into the patients' rooms so the dogs can not get into the beds. This makes Ticino the first addiction clinic in Germany, which includes the animals of the patients in the treatment.

Psychiatrist Alf Kroker, chief physician at Ticino Castle, explains this measure with the great advantages that come from the close relationship between his patients and their animals. "Many addicts have broken off all social contacts," he says. Against the background of drug procurement, many addicts have lost all social contacts. Social ties to friends and families broke down. "The bond to the dog was often the only one exist, the animal gives the last stop in life."

In addition, he sees in the possibility of animal husbandry an important prerequisite for addicts even start a therapy. Because if the patients had to part with the treatment for their animal, many addicts would not even take a therapy. "The animal becomes unconditionally trusted, it is like a child of its own, a competent protector," says Kroker. In addition, the animals would facilitate the therapist's access to the addicted. In addition, the animals would learn from the animals to take responsibility for themselves and the animal again and to cope with everyday life.

For the addicted, the therapy is well received: "The dog accompanies me, he gives me confidence, is always there when you have trouble“, 25 year old Jaqueline, who has been in Ticino for half a year. And in individual cases, he is also a future perspective: "My dog ​​is my life and my future profession," said Robert, 26. After the therapy, he wanted to begin training as a zookeeper.

Four-legged friends structure the daily routine of the patients
Currently, in addition to the 47 patients, there are 25 dogs and three domestic cats, as well as two cold-blooded horses. These are fed as part of a work therapy, cared for and ridden.
So that there are no problems with the animals, strict rules would have been introduced, as clinic director Nierath: Dog ownership in the patient room, muzzle in the house, Leinenzwang in the park and freewheel only in fenced terrain, plus training in small groups.

Incidents would not have happened yet. There would have been no injuries among the patients or among the animals and there would have been no outliers.

Praise also comes from outside. "The animal structures the daily routine, the affected person has a positive role as a provider", says Ingrid Stephan, director of the Institute for Social Learning with Animals in Lindwedel near Hanover.

Animal therapy known from the treatment of depression
The use of dogs for therapeutic purposes is not new. For some time there have been attempts with dementia sufferers and patients suffering from depression. Particularly in the case of the latter, clearly visible successes in treatment had been achieved. „Ideally“, that „Animal-assisted therapy helps with depression“, In some patients, hospitalization in a clinic can be completely avoided. „Great that our doctors are involved in the advancement of treatment methods“ Working in the interests of the patients, said the manager of the Oberberg Hospital Joachim Finklenburg. (Jp)