Awaress of Treatment Options for Individuals with Substance Abuse Issues - Essay Example

This research will begin with the statement that drug addiction treatments on Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting that the author attended are based on behavioral therapies as attitudes, behaviors, and reactions towards stress are most of the underlying factors that have contributed to a person’s drug addiction. The cognitive-behavioral theory/model, for instance, is the theory adapted for most of the treatments related to substance addiction. In the cognitive behavioral theory, substance addiction is viewed as a behavior that was learned from previous experiences.

In the Narcotics Anonymous meeting held at Second Baptist Church, each person spoke out how they began using drugs and the negative behaviors and things they’ve encountered while using a drug. Participants of the meeting also stated relapse from using drugs due to problems of homelessness, dying on the streets, and disappointing their family/children. Cognitive behavioral theory includes these thoughts as well as the cognitions and emotions that precipitate substance addiction. Treatment employed in the Narcotics Anonymous incorporate learning by association that includes identification of stimuli that trigger substance abuse and learning by consequences which include learning the behavior due to consequences encountered after using the substance.

Narcotics Anonymous meetings are open to the public and are not a private meeting as others may be. Each meeting, they have a speaker that shared their story about substance addiction – their initial attempt to use drugs, the negative things they’ve done (robbing, stealing, prostitution, overdosing), and their problems and frustrations towards life. Narcotics Anonymous participants also discussed the amount of “clean time” from drugs, ranging from 24hrs-15yrs and coins that are given out to those who have stayed clean for 24hrs, 1 month, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years and so on.

Meetings are always closed with a serenity prayer. After completion of the 12 steps, Narcotics Anonymous envisioned that “Every addict in the world has the chance to experience our message in his or her own language and culture and find the opportunity for a new way of life”. Group Members Participation Group participation counts a lot in fighting for drug addiction. Members of Narcotics Anonymous are encouraged to take a step in ending their drug-drug addiction through success stories of former-drug addicts.

In addition, group participation has helped substance addicts realize that they are not the only person who has problems related to drug abuse thus, making them feel that other participants understand their problems and group participation will help addicts like them to fight addiction. Anyone who identifies themselves as addicts or for those who are uncertain and think they might have a drug problem may participate the Narcotics Anonymous meeting. The meeting the author had attended was composed of 10 members and was under Level III (medically monitored intensive inpatient treatment).