Spa treatments as a potential tool in the rehabilitation of people with alcohol and drug problems: a personal perspective

There is a lack of non‐pharmacological options for the treatment of people with substance misuse problems. However, service users often mention their use of steam rooms and home baths to help aid their problem of detoxification and aid relaxation of muscle cramps. These anecdotes prompted this current review, to establish whether spa bathing is used for this purpose and whether there is any evidence of its effectiveness. The review was carried out in 2003 and includes a literature review together with written and oral responses from individuals and organizations. The review provided an overview of the extent of uses of spa bathing and describes a variety of examples.