How To Counsel Drug Addicts And Alcoholics

What Are Treatments For Drug Addiction

There are many options that have been successful in treating drug addiction, including:

• behavioral counseling
• medical devices and applications used to treat withdrawal symptoms or deliver skills training
• evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety
• long-term follow-up to prevent relapse

A range of care with a tailored treatment program and follow-up options can be crucial to success. Treatment should include both medical and mental health services as needed. Follow-up care may include community- or family-based recovery support systems.

Why Do You Need Counselling For Drug Addiction

The problem of drug addiction is pervasive in Indian society. Reports published by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and Indias Ministry of Social Justice highlight how millions of Indians continue to be dependent on prescription drugs, opioids, cannabis, and other substances. T

he figures highlight the seriousness of the drug problem that India faces and the need for every household in the country to be aware of this problem and identify potential addiction problems among its members. The report also underscores how cannabis, opium, and heroin are the most common drugs consumed by Indians while Buprenorphine, propoxyphene, and heroin are injected into the system.

Specialists practising drug counseling and treatment share how addiction generally starts with the use of ganja and nicotine post which adolescents gradually move towards using hard drugs like ICE, MDME, etc.;

An AIIMS report submitted in 2019 underlines how more than half of the people seeking treatment for their opioid addiction problems belong to Delhi, Maharashtra, UP, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh. Many doctors providing drug addiction treatment and counseling reveal how most teenagers seeking thrills abuse drugs without realizing their effects.

Refer Patients To Outside Support Groups

There are a variety of outside resources available to those recovering from addiction that are beneficial when combined with counseling treatment. As a counselor, referring patients to programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous can add another level of outside support.

These community based programs provide an additional layer of accountability to those seeking rehabilitation, and by attending meetings, patients will be surrounded by individuals with similar backgrounds, and can further share their stories, wisdom, and struggles in a non-judgmental environment.

The role of the counselor in addiction treatment involves far more than just talking an addict through treatment. Counselors have to be highly empathetic people, who have a passion for building relationships with their patients. From providing a safe space for patients to openly talk about their struggles with addiction, to guiding family members through the recovery process, to addressing plans to avoid relapse, counselors play an important role in addiction recovery.

The demand for substance abuse counselors is on the steady incline, with a projected ten year growth of 31 percent. Students who earn their Masters Degree in Counseling from Wake Forest University leave with skills necessary to help people in their community heal and recover from addiction.

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Take Our Am I A Drug Addict Self

Take our free, 5-minute Am I A Drug Addict? self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with drug addiction. The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.

The Difference Between Addiction And Dependence

The terms addiction and dependence are often confused or used interchangeably. While there is some overlap, its important to understand the major differences between the two.

A dependence is present when users develop a physical tolerance to a substance. They may experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop using the drug altogether. Usually a dependency is resolved by slowly tapering off the use of a particular substance.

On the other hand, an addiction occurs when extensive drug or alcohol use has caused a persons brain chemistry to change. Addictions manifest themselves as uncontrollable cravings to use drugs, despite the harm done to oneself or others. The only way to overcome an addiction is through treatment.

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Become Educated And Stay Involved

In most cases, drug use significantly changes the lives of all those close to the addict none more so than the immediately family. For this reason, the family often needs help, too.

Many drug and alcohol treatment facilities provide education for family members on topics such as how addiction works and how to handle stress. These programs are key to restoring the health of the family unit after addiction.

The entire family needs to be involved in the treatment as well as the recovery process. To do this, the family will need to learn the best ways to support the recovering addict. Agreeing to participate in family education is a great way to support the addicts recovery.

Many outpatient family therapy programs are available for you and your loved ones. You meet with a certified therapist who teaches you intervention skills you can use at home during stressful and trigger situations. You learn healthy communication skills and ways to express feelings and needs without projecting blame.

How To Help Someone Struggling With Addiction

John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine.;For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the;National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism;of the National Institutes of Health .

• What to Expect

If you have a friend or relative who is living with addiction, you might be wondering how you can help. It’s not always easy to make the decision to try to help someone who has an addiction, but your loved one will have a greater chance of overcoming addiction with your support.

This article discusses some of the strategies you can use to help a friend or loved one who is struggling with an addiction. While every situation is unique, there are some general guidelines that can help.

• Focus on building trust so they will be more likely to listen.

• Be honest and let them know how the addiction is affecting your life and your relationship with them.

• Respect their privacy while being supportive. You can’t force them into quitting, but you can be a source of strength.

• Threaten. Giving ultimatums may lead them to hide the behavior.

• Criticize. This can contribute to shame and lessen their belief in their ability to quit.

• Expect immediate change. Recovery takes time and setbacks are bound to happen.

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A Biblical Response To Dependency And Addiction

Dr. Ab Abercrombie

Dependency and AddictionAccording to experts, alcohol and drug addiction are diseases; obesity and overeating are due to genetic predisposition; obsessive relationship attachments are labeled codependent; and excessive spending may be a symptom of bi-polar disorder. To refer to these matters as sin is considered taboo. After all, it isnt our fault if we have a physical malady, genetic flaw, poor childhood, or biochemical imbalance.

Focusing on sin, some argue, is harsh and promotes guilty, shameful emotions. I argue that telling someone there is no remedy or cure for their behavioral prison is harsh. Without transformation, we can only teach someone to manage their illness rather than resolve their sin.

Addiction is indulgence of the flesh and;the temporal pleasures that come with the element of attraction. For some substances, medical addiction can, and does, become a complicating factor making deception and entrapment still;greater. Yet in its origin, it is the placement of something or someone above God.

Edward Welch calls addiction a worship disorder, pointing to idolatry as a central theme in our excessive consumptions. He writes:

Furthermore, the problem is not outside of us located in a liquor store or on the Internet; the problem is within us. Alcohol and drugs are essentially satisfiers of deeper idols. The problem is not the idolatrous substance; it is the false worship of the heart .

Paul answers this dilemma later in the same book:

Summary:

How To Approach An Alcoholic

It can be scary to think about approaching a loved one about their addiction to alcoholespecially if their alcohol use has affected you on a personal level. As difficult as it may be, try to focus on the present, and ask yourself how you can best support your loved one from this point on.

Before approaching your loved one, consider how they may be feeling and how they will receive your support. Try your best to remain calm and caring and never begin any conversation about treatment when your loved one is drunk. Use I statements, such as, I noticed, or I have been concerned, and avoid placing blame.

It is not easy for someone to admit they have a problem with alcohol use, so take time to prepare beforehand. You may want to consult with a counselor or a physician prior to the conversation or take advantage of the Community Reinforcement and Family Training ;model. CRAFT is a holistic approach centered on positive reinforcement that teaches family and friends how to effectively motivate and talk to a loved one about treatment. Other approaches you may want to consider using include:

• A traditional intervention program.

As a concerned family member, friend, or coworker, you are in a position to positively affect change in your loved ones life. The statistics of alcohol use are grimthe CDC estimated that alcohol consumption shortened the lives of those who died due to excessive alcohol use between 2006 and 2010 by an average of 30 years.5

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Principles Of Effective Treatment

Based on scientific research since the mid-1970s, the following key principles should form the basis of any effective treatment program:

• Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior.
• No single treatment is right for everyone.
• People need to have quick access to treatment.
• Effective treatment addresses all of the patients needs, not just his or her drug use.
• Staying in treatment long enough is critical.
• Counseling and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of treatment.
• Medications are often an important part of treatment, especially when combined with behavioral therapies.
• Treatment plans must be reviewed often and modified to fit the patients changing needs.
• Treatment should address other possible mental disorders.
• Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of treatment.
• Treatment doesn’t need to be voluntary to be effective.
• Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously.
• Treatment programs should test patients for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases as well as teach them about steps they can take to reduce their risk of these illnesses.

What Does An Alcohol Counselor Do

Each persons experience with an alcohol counselor will vary because the recovery process is different for everyone. Generally, you will meet with your alcohol counselor frequently individually and in group sessions within the first several months of recovery. Depending on your progression after a few months, meetings may begin to taper down. However, you can schedule a meeting with your counselor in between sessions if youre having a difficult week or finding it hard to fight back urges to drink.

An alcohol counselor can help:

• Provide information about alcoholism and discuss the recovery process
• Put together a structured and realistic treatment and recovery plan based on your needs
• Help uncover any underlying issues and triggers associated with your drinking
• Offer tips and techniques for a successful recovery and long-term sobriety
• Give regular assessments to determine your progress
• Support you emotionally and encourage you throughout each stage of recovery

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Recognizing And Understanding Addiction

Identifying an SUD can be a complicated process. While some signs of addiction are obvious, others are more difficult to recognize. Many people who realize they have a problem will try to hide it from family and friends, making it harder to tell whether someone is struggling.

Television, media, and film often depict people with SUDs as criminals or individuals with moral shortcomings. The truth is, theres no single face of addiction. Anyone can develop patterns of abuse or risky behaviors, no matter their age, culture, or financial status.

Emotion Regulation And Mindfulness

A growing literature is demonstrating the importance of emotion regulation in the treatment of substance use. Considering that nicotine and other psychoactive substances such as cocaine activate similar psycho-pharmacological pathways, an emotion regulation approach may be applicable to a wide array of substance use. Proposed models of affect-driven tobacco use have focused on negative reinforcement as the primary driving force for addiction; according to such theories, tobacco is used because it helps one escape from the undesirable effects of nicotine withdrawal or other negative moods.Acceptance and commitment therapy , is showing evidence that it is effective in treating substance use, including the treatment of polysubstance use disorder and tobacco smoking.Mindfulness programs that encourage patients to be aware of their own experiences in the present moment and of emotions that arise from thoughts, appear to prevent impulsive/compulsive responses. Research also indicates that mindfulness programs can reduce the consumption of substances such as alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana, cigarettes and opiates.

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Counseling Helps Marriages In Trouble With Addiction

John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine.;For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the;National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism;of the National Institutes of Health .

It has long been recognized that both partners in a couple are affected by addiction, even if only one person in the pair is addicted. And research shows that couples counseling can help with addiction as well as the relationship problems that go along with it.

But sometimes one or both partners are confused or offended by the suggestion that they should have counseling for relationship problems, feeling they have weathered the storm, and that the addiction should be the focus of therapeutic attention.

Here are five important ways that counseling for;relationship problems can pave the road to recovery from an addiction, as well as a better relationship. You can also explore if you are enabling your loved one.

How To Become A Substance Abuse Counselor

Substance abuse counseling can be traced all the way back to the 1750s, when Native American tribes began building abstinence-based movements and practices to treat alcoholism.; Since that time, people have worked against the building chaos of substances in equally chaotic waysthink, prohibition, inebriate asylums, treating alcoholism with cocaine, etc.; The misuse of alcohol and drugs has recently hit devastating numbers across the U.S.; Victims of addiction have hard journeys to take, facing crises inflicted upon themselves as well as those closest to them.; Thankfully, although perhaps there are still many improvements to be made, todays methods of treatment help people everywhere battle the painful fight against addiction; think, the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.; Substance abuse counselors work with and for patients struggling with addiction, helping clients reach goals, find and sustain work, and practice sobriety safely and positively.;;

So, how can you become a substance abuse or addictions counselor from where you are now?; Read on to learn more about the what, why and how of this high-demand profession!

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Get Help For Alcoholism

If youre struggling with alcohol abuse or an alcohol use disorder and are ready to seek treatment, American Addiction Centers can help. Alcohol.org is a subsidiary of AAC, a nationwide provider of addiction treatment centers.

Our admissions navigators are available 24/7 to chat with you about your treatment options, where our facilities are located and how to check if your insurance covers rehab with us. Call us at Who Answers? Who answers the helpline calls. to speak with someone today; there is no obligation to make any decisions today and all calls are 100% confidential.

Fill out our instant insurance verification form below to help us better serve you when you call. Remember, youre not alone, recovery is possible and finding freedom from alcohol will be one of the best things youll ever do for yourself.

Looking Ahead: The Future Of Treatment

Progress continues to be made as researchers seek out new and better treatments for alcohol problems. By studying the underlying causes of AUD in the brain and body, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and;Alcoholism is working to identify key cellular or molecular structurescalled targetsthat could lead to the development of new medications.

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How To Let Go Of An Addict You Love: Knowing When Its Time To Let Go

Loving an addict is one of the most difficult things that can happen to most people. Whether youre in a romantic relationship with an addict, or its your child, parent or someone else youre close to, its incredibly difficult to continue loving someone with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. While you may make your best effort to help them, at some point, you might also have to understand how to let go of an addict you love.

Environmental Risks And Influences On Drug Addiction

• Home and Family

Statistics suggest that children who come from abusive or uncaring households are much more likely to become addicts. As well, a household in which children are frequently exposed to drugs or alcohol can also increase their chances of addiction.

• Age

Studies have shown that the younger you are when you are exposed to drugs or alcohol, the more likely you are to develop an addiction.

• Peer Pressure

Addicts are commonly characterised as having poor coping skills, and saying no to their friends who are asking them to try drugs is often extremely difficult.

• Stress

High levels of stress may drive people to use drugs and alcohol as a means to escape, or a way to get by in everyday life.

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