Substance Abuse Disorder
Substance Abuse Disorders: Self-awareness is the 1st Step
The consistent prevalence of crimes has strongly been linked to substance abuse. Research has made it clear that education targeted to the youth provide the best way to significantly reduce this problem. eMedicine.com shares that people abuse substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs for varied and complicated reasons, but it is clear that the society pays a significant cost. Although use of some drugs such as cocaine has declined in recent years, use of other drugs such as heroin and “club drugs” has increased. It is crucial that everyone learns about this growing concern.
Common Treatment Methods
As shared by the Child Welfare of the US Department of Health & Human Services, there are several ways to categorize the treatment, based on the theoretical information and treatment or level of care. The following are the common approaches that can be used to treat substance abuse.
Cognitive-behavioral Approaches
- It help patients identify the cause why they use drugs or alcohol and develop specific skills to deal with these problems. Psychological disorders are often linked with this concern, thus making this treatment all the more effective.
Motivational Enhancement Treatment
- This combines some parts of cognitive-behavioral interventions, though it centers on improving and maintaining patients’ change and motivations. Rather than insisting to accept that the patient has a problem, this psychotherapy concentrates on the person’s needs and weaknesses between their present behavior and their goals.
Contingency Management
- This involves motivational enhancement process and elements of rewards and reinforcements. For instance, rewards are offered for established positive behaviors.
Therapeutic community
- A therapeutic community is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy and the belief that it is best given within the environment of a community on patients with similar histories. Such model was developed for individuals with antisocial personality traits besides substance abuse. As patients confront each others’ attitudes and behaviors, they understand a huge deal on their own character and learn from others as well.
Trauma-specific therapy service
- This treatment addresses the impact of a particular trauma on the life of a patient. Such approach focuses on trauma healing and recovery as an integral part of the therapy. A number of trauma-specific treatments for women has been developed recently.
Trauma-informed procedure services
- It focus on the understanding of trauma as well as its impact on recovery and substance abuse disorders. This kind of management accepts that a considerable percentage of patients have sustained emotional, sexual or physical trauma and their disorder may be the consequence of self-medicating behaviors when dealing with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) symptoms.
The Inaccessibility of Therapy for Addicts - In the News
As per the latest news from the United Nations Information System, most people don’t have access to effective management and care. The UN information system presents the details on the resources assigned for the drug and alcohol prevention and therapy problems in 147 countries.
According to UN News, drug dependence is a disorder that can be treated effectively but, unfortunately, the large majority of persons who need it do not have access to the disease management. The data presented in the new system illustrate the huge gaps that still exist in the area of drug dependence treatment. But more and more countries realize the benefits of therapy for drug and alcohol dependence, not only for the individuals themselves, but also for the society and the economy. Click here
Medical Management – On the Web
Drugabuse.gov shares information about the importance of medical substance abuse disorders. According to this article, medications can be applied to help reestablish normal brain function and to prevent relapse and diminish cravings. Currently, there are medications for opioids (heroin, morphine), tobacco (nicotine), and alcohol addiction and are developing others for treating stimulant (cocaine, methamphetamine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction. However, this kind of treatment will work best with behavioral therapy.
Due to these ongoing cravings, one of the most important components is relapse prevention. Treating substance abuse disorders will matter on the person and the substance being used. In psychotherapeutic treatments, such as the treatment approaches presented above, the counselor gives the patient coping strategies for drug cravings and the techniques to avoiding relapse. A common drug prescribed for controlling withdrawal symptoms is methadone.
Are you suffering from an addiction or psychological disorder call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-515-5032.
