Nicotine dependence treatment in Switzerland

CorSwiss offers nicotine addiction treatment in Switzerland, namely in one of the best rehabilitation centres in the world - Kusnacht Practice Clinic.

It's important to understand that nicotine addiction develops from a combination of physical, psychological, biochemical, genetic, and social factors. Our goal is to identify the root causes of addiction and restore a healthy approach to self-awareness and problem-solving. By undergoing nicotine addiction treatment in Switzerland, our clients can continue to lead normal lives.

More than 5 million deaths each year are directly attributed to tobacco use, and an additional 600,000 occur due to non-smokers being exposed to secondhand smoke (passive smoking), with children accounting for 28% of passive smoking-related deaths.

Nicotine addiction

Nicotine addiction is likely the most common and overt form of chemical substance addiction in the modern world. While many of us can go our entire lives without consciously encountering someone dependent on alcohol, prescription drugs, or other narcotics, it is nearly impossible not to come across someone who is addicted to nicotine.

Nicotine is derived from the roots and leaves of plants in the nightshade family, including tobacco. After processing, it can become snuff, which is inhaled into the nose or smoked. Cigarettes are undoubtedly the most popular means of consuming nicotine. The World Health Organization estimates that there are currently over a billion smokers worldwide, with more than 300 million trying to quit this harmful habit each year. Nicotine produces a strong addiction, much like most of the 4,000 chemical substances found in tobacco smoke, of which we know at least 250 are harmful. In principle, nicotine is also used for insecticides.

What is the popularity of nicotin

The popularity of nicotine lies in its dual action as both a stimulant and a relaxant. The stimulation or excitement felt by nicotine users is due to the release of glucose and adrenaline in the body. However, individuals who use nicotine for an extended period may require increasingly higher doses to achieve such effects.

Consumers describe a wide range of conflicting sensations associated with nicotine use, including increased concentration, relaxation, alertness, and tranquility. Others use nicotine to suppress appetite or boost metabolism as part of a weight loss program.

The widespread use of nicotine is reflected in the significant number of diseases that prolonged nicotine consumption can cause. The World Health Organization notes that tobacco use is responsible for the deaths of even half of its consumers, with nearly 6 million people dying each year from tobacco-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, or respiratory diseases.

Diseases caused by smoking

In addition to the vast number of deaths caused annually by nicotine consumption, both directly and passively, individuals can also experience a wide range of chronic health problems, including:

• Congenital defects,
• Diabetes,
• Asthma,
• Blindness,
• Reduced fertility.

Even before such chronic health problems manifest, individuals dependent on nicotine may experience physical and mental disorders, such as low energy, an inability to concentrate, overall irritability, anxiety, depression, or insomnia. The consequences of nicotine addiction can be gradual and almost imperceptible. In some cases, when specific symptoms become noticeable, it may already be too late, as they can lead to illness or even death.

Nicotine is a drug

While nicotine is often considered a "soft" drug or even not considered a drug at all by many, our experience shows that people addicted to nicotine often find it very difficult to quit using this substance.

Many of our clients have tried various methods to quit nicotine before coming to Kusnacht Practice. The early setbacks for many clients are often due to the fact that they attempted to quit a drug their bodies were dependent on, without addressing the root causes of their addiction. So, even if they were able to quit using nicotine for a certain period, their nicotine cravings would return at the same time as the root causes.

At Kusnacht Practice, we understand that the root causes of nicotine addiction arise from a complex interplay of genetic, psychological, or social factors that clients often struggle to cope with or may not even be aware of during their attempts at self-rehabilitation.

Our team of experts employs a wide range of methods, leveraging cutting-edge technologies, to identify and treat the root causes of each client's addiction. Nicotine addiction treatment in Switzerland involves detailed and individualized programs that help clients address various issues or fears that may have led to their addiction and which caused their previous attempts to break the harmful habit to be unsuccessful.

Our holistic approach includes the following elements

1. Our main priority is to identify and treat the physical, psychological, biochemical, genetic, and social root causes of addiction.
2. After our clients arrive, on the seventh day, they are admitted to a hospital that collaborates with us (Männedorf Hospital), where our medical staff ensures a safe cessation of the drug(s) they are dependent on. We take care to ensure the client experiences minimal discomfort during the withdrawal process.
3. While in the hospital, our specialists conduct a comprehensive medical examination, including extensive neurochemical and biochemical tests, genetic testing (swab), and analyses of blood, urine, saliva, and hair. We also perform other assessments, including psychiatric, socio-chemical evaluation, and an assessment of nutrition and lifestyle. During this time, clients work with an addiction consultant to initiate the counseling process, starting with an assessment of their addiction.
4. Based on this assessment, our specialists, in collaboration with a psychotherapist and the client, develop a detailed treatment plan that determines the duration of the core treatment, which typically ranges from six to twelve weeks.
5. Medications are only prescribed as a last resort when the symptoms are severe and do not respond to the restoration of biochemical balance and other forms of therapy. Our goal is for our clients to be free from chemical substances and, equally importantly, their side effects.

Nicotine addiction treatment in Switzerland | Conditions

1. After the hospital, our client is admitted to one of our exclusive luxury residences.
2. Our treatment for the root causes of addiction involves creating a customised formulation of micronutrients and amino acids to combat the various disorders identified during biochemical or neurochemical testing. This formulation is as individualised as each client's papillary lines. The results of the laboratory tests are also used to determine the menu that is prepared for the client by the personal chef, in a way that maximises the biochemical and neurochemical recovery process.
3. Where possible, we will invite the client's most important family members to participate in a two-week Systemic Family Therapy programme during the client's treatment. This is optional, but we recommend taking advantage of this opportunity. Participating family members of the client will gain knowledge of the client's disorder. This therapy may encourage family members to decide to undergo treatment to address their own dysfunctional pain properties.
4. For long-term rehabilitation, continued follow-up is mandatory. Maintaining withdrawal in a hospital environment is relatively easy for the client, but the real challenge is for the client to maintain withdrawal and continue effective rehabilitation after returning home. To address this, we run a Follow-up Care Programme, which may involve the mentor or therapist returning home with the client/tangata whai ora to support their re-integration back into their home, family, work, school and friends. Importantly, the therapist helps clients to adjust their lifestyle to the rehabilitation programme. Other elements of the programme may include daily telephone/Skype conversations during the first critical period and repeated visits to KusnachtPractice (or home visits by our specialists), initially every month, then quarterly during the first year and then increasingly less frequent visits until the end of the second year. Follow-up care can last a few days up to 2 years in combination with 12-step support groups significantly increases the likelihood of effective rehabilitation.

Individualized Nicotine Addiction Treatment in Switzerland

KusnachtPractice provides individualised treatment to meet the needs of each client. We treat clients exclusively on an individual basis, not in groups, so all of our specialists (doctors, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, counsellors and nutritionists) and our complementary therapy team (consisting of yoga instructors, acupuncturists, reflexologists, massage therapists and personal trainers) work with just one client and their family. We look deeper than just the signs to understand the function of addiction in the client's life. When we identify the root causes of our client's problems, we treat them using methods backed by scientific knowledge.

Unique and effective approach

We work with our clients to help us gain control of the signs to address their problems and enable them to develop the skills needed to eliminate the addiction-promoting thinking and behaviours in everyday life. We use medication only as a last resort. Treatment may include some or all of the elements below:

1. Medically supervised cessation of the drug(s) our client is dependent on. All cessation procedures are medically supervised.
2. Detoxification to eliminate from the body toxins accumulated from our environment as well as the food, water and chemicals consumed. This allows us to stop the drug hunger. For the same purpose we use saunas, special detoxification products, diets and exercises. All alcohol and drug detoxification procedures are done under medical supervision.
3. Tests and laboratory tests to determine each client's biochemical and neurochemical disorders. Based on these results, we create, using a computer programme, a formulation of nutritional micro-components to bring back the patient's biochemical and neurochemical balance. This formulation is as exceptional as each client's papillary lines. Laboratory results are also used to determine the menu that is prepared for the client by the personal chef, in a way that maximises the process of restoring biochemical and neurochemical balance.
4. Psychotherapy to identify and treat the underlying psychological issues that led to addiction and various other psychiatric, personal, social or family issues identified in the treatment plan. Psychotherapy may include:

• Cognitive treatment methods
• Clinical hypnotherapy/trance work
• Mindfulness practice
• Somatic experiences
• EMDR to remove triggers and stressors
• Positive psychology

5. Family Therapy Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation - Using a magnetic field to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to alleviate signs of depression.
6. My Brain Solutions TM - Scientifically designed exercises, developed through a computer programme, affecting attention, memory, malleability, stress reduction and positive attitude.
7. Complementary therapies, including:

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Individual training
• Acupuncture
• Art and music therapy
• Reflexology
• Massage
• Satori chair sessions
• Alpha-Stim sessions for pain reduction, anxiety, depression, or insomnia
• Utilizing the spa at the Dolder Grand Hotel

8. Nutrition and lifestyle coaching
9. An intensive psycho-educational programme, including a manual containing topics important to each client and family member involved in the treatment programme.
10. Completion of some or all of the steps of a 12-step or Smokers Anonymous type programme.
11. Participation in Smokers Anonymous meetings and other similar support groups.
12. Spiritual Care.
13. A two-day Systemic Therapy programme for families.
14. Providing an intensive Aftercare Programme for the client and their family members, which often involves the mentor returning home with the client to help them adjust to their new life.