Her baby waits outside in a stroller. In the meeting room, people crowd into a horseshoe of miscellaneous armchairs. Some banter, while others read, doze, or gaze somberly into space. This is a relatively new detoxification treatment, shown to be effective by Michael Smith, M.D., at the Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx. After every ear glints with a tracery of steel, the lights go down and the box plays a soothing tape.
Most patients lie back and rest, to let their treatment sink in for the next half hour.
While the effects vary from person to person, most agree it helps. My body was messed up, my spirit was messed up. I feel lighter. After a while the lights come up and the students circulate, asking about physical symptoms. One man confided he was having pains in his chest, left shoulder, and arm.