Music Therapy for the Treatment of Patients With Addictions in COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

To the Editor: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people experienced anxiety, stress, and depression. This has resulted in many people drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, and using illegal drugs. Without realizing it, they can finally become addicts. In many studies, one of the unique interventions that can cure people who are addicted to substances is through music therapy. From the past to the present, the application of music therapy has been variably applied as primary and secondary care for people with addictions to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. In fact, music therapy has been used to improve the health and wellbeing of patients with various disorders, including those with addictions. In patients with addiction disorders, music therapy has been shown to generate positive responses by increasing selfesteem and motivation, increasing socialization and communication, increasing emotional expression, increasing information transfer related to relaxation, increasing physical and emotional healing, and increasing the ability to identify learning styles which is used for coping and self-expression. Through general improvements in the behavioral, emotional, and social aspects of addicted patients, music therapy can become a unique mode of treatment as part of an overall treatment plan, especially in treatment settings where little treatment variability (eg, individual counseling/therapy and group counseling/therapy). Previous research reported that music therapy was beneficial in enabling them to experience positive emotions without the need to substances use. In addition, in the next research has proven that music therapy can create positive emotions so that substance addicts can reduce their dependence on substances. Hopefully this article can be an input for all of us to be able to deal with patients with addictions through music therapy interventions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.