Complementary therapy for addiction: "drumming out drugs".
OBJECTIVE
This article examines drumming activities as complementary addiction treatments and discusses their reported effects.


METHODS
I observed drumming circles for substance abuse (as a participant), interviewed counselors and Internet mailing list participants, initiated a pilot program, and reviewed literature on the effects of drumming.


RESULTS
Research reviews indicate that drumming enhances recovery through inducing relaxation and enhancing theta-wave production and brain-wave synchronization. Drumming produces pleasurable experiences, enhanced awareness of preconscious dynamics, release of emotional trauma, and reintegration of self. Drumming alleviates self-centeredness, isolation, and alienation, creating a sense of connectedness with self and others. Drumming provides a secular approach to accessing a higher power and applying spiritual perspectives.


CONCLUSIONS
Drumming circles have applications as complementary addiction therapy, particularly for repeated relapse and when other counseling modalities have failed.
Winkelman
Michael
M
Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-2402, USA. michael.winkelman@asu.edu
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D008923:Missouri; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010414:Pennsylvania; D016730:Program Development; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D019423:Shamanism; D012932:Social Facilitation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D014768:Virginia; D014922:Wisconsin