Drug Abuse Help
You can get the drug abuse help you are looking for from the various support groups that are available. Here is some information on alcohol and drug abuse help along with other addictions and how support groups can be really beneficial.
Attendance at and involvement in self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous is an important supplement to substance abuse treatment and it provides necessary peer support during and after treatment.
Recent studies through the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) for persons aged 12 years or older asked about a person’s involvement in substance abuse treatment, the types of drugs used and if the participant attends self-help groups. Additional questions concerned the length of sobriety and the current rate of use.
In 2006 and 2007, the years of the study, over 5 million persons over the age of 12 (2% of the population over 12) attended self-help groups because of alcohol or drug use. 66% were male and 80% were over the age of 25. 67% of those attending were white and had a family income of less than $50,000.00.
For all attendees, 45% attended just for alcohol use, 21% for drug usage and 33% for a combination of both drugs and alcohol. Perhaps the most startling fact is that for all those attending, 45% abstained from any alcohol or drug use for the time period of 1 month prior to the survey and 55% continued to use alcohol and/or drugs, but the abstinence rates also varied by substances. For just alcohol, 47% were abstinent for the 30 days prior to the survey, while 33% of drug users were abstinent and 53% of those using both alcohol and drugs were abstinent.
Do people attending self help groups also receive treatment? 33% of those attending self help groups received some form of treatment, while of those attending just for alcohol 26% received treatment, while 43% of drug users attending self-help groups also received treatment. Conversely, 75% of those in some form of substance abuse treatment attended self-help groups.
Recovery is a life-long process. Long-term support is critical for getting and staying in recovery. Research on recovery rates clearly indicate that attendance at 12 step or self-help groups greatly increases chances of recovery. Being among those who have the same affliction substantially increases the opportunity to share feelings and frustrations often associated with recovery. Recovery does not need to be done alone. It is best shared with those who are also in recovery.
The only requirement for membership in substance abuse self-help groups is a desire to stop using drugs or drinking. There are no dues or fees associated with 12 step groups and they are not associated with any police or organization. Most treatment centers will encourage attendance at 12 step meetings, because when treatment stops, the person will have a much better chance at recovery if they are plugged into a group consisting of people who used the same substances and can understand them. Leaving treatment, especially residential treatment, is the most critical time for recovery, as the structure of treatment is no longer in place and the person is free to make choices where to go and what to do. This often leads to relapse if there is not something in place to replace the free time, such as 12 step meetings. Building a sober support team is critical for recovery. Remember that there are many people going through the same experience. Recovery never has to be done alone.
Call Hawaii Island Recovery at 1-866-515-5032 for more information on getting alcohol and drug abuse help. You can also contact us via our online form.
Tagged with: alcohol support • drug abuse help • drug abuse support
Filed under: Drug and Alcohol
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