Serving of the Treatment Program - Term Paper Example

Substance Abuse Treatment Number: Introduction Thousands of people die annually because of a chronic disease known as substance abuse. Substance abuse slowly cripples an individual to the point where they cannot work effectively, care for a family, or make rational decisions on their own because most of the substance abuse victims suffer mental and physical deterioration to the point of insanity or death. The most unfortunate thing about this deplorable disease is the fact that it has no cure even though there are effective treatment methods.  Despite the fact that substance abuse treatment treatments are readily available, a majority of those afflicted with the disease go untreated because health insurance companies refuse to pay at all or just part a certain percentage (Walters & Rotgers, 2012). This makes some of the victims to end up being homeless, while others may die an early death in response to a missed opportunity for treatment due to the health insurance companies’ neglect and discrimination on the issue (Walters & Rotgers, 2012).  Substance abuse comprises of two main types of addictions namely drug addiction and alcoholism.  Drug addiction refers to the dependence on a street drug or on an over the counter medication while alcoholism is the dependence on alcohol. In this context, alcohol is referred to as a drug since it fits the description of a drug, which is defined as any substance that alters normal human homeostasis.  Once an individual is addicted to a substance, he or she cannot avoid using it irrespective of their desires to stop the habit because of the harm it might be causing to them. The American Medical Association (AMA) defines drug addiction and alcoholism as some of the major lifestyle diseases in the 21st century that may be a result of genetics, environment, or upbringing. There are numerous approaches that are applied in administering substance abuse treatment. However, some of these treatment methods are ineffective because they neglect not only the substance abuse dependency but also other causative factors such as comorbid mental illness and or any previous traumatic events that may have occurred in the individuals past that may have contributed to the substance abuse. Applications of such ineffective strategies leave substance abuse victims still struggling to maintain sobriety and have a successful life with stability and security in all aspects. An effective substance abuse treatment in individuals with any other causative factors must be inclusive of all factors and illnesses to be effective not only short-term but also long term (Reyes, Elhai & Ford, 2008). Individuals suffering from substance abuse are not often provided with an opportunity for treatment and it is very unlikely that the treatment is effective and long lasting because a significant number of persons suffering from substance dependency also have other causative factors that may hinder the success of treatment of the substance abuse. Some of the most common causative factors include traumatic life event such as a sexual abuse, or a comorbid diagnosis of mental illness in combination with the substance dependency. Studies have shown that persons addicted to substance abuse and have previously experienced sexual abuse are more likely to have a lifetime drug use disorder by 62% with about 25-35% of individuals suffering from serious mental illness developing a substance abuse disorder. Therefore, the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment in persons is dependent on the dealing causative factors such as an underlying mental illness and or trauma (Reyes, Elhai & Ford, 2008). There are also various non-treatment alternatives to address substance abuse such as criminal justice system, which encompasses outlets such as jail, probation, parole, and boot camp. This non-treatment alternative is relatively popular though it is not very effective because building jails is very expensive as figures shows that USA minimum-security prison cells cost approximately US$ 35,000 per cell to build and approximately US$ 27,000 per year to maintain per inmate. Therefore, imprisonment alone, even if effective in reducing alcohol and drug use, is not a cost efficient alternative as equated to other treatments that may cost as little as nothing for years of care (Velasquez & Maurer, 2011). The offender population the treatment program is designed to serve Substance Abuse Treatment for Adults in the Criminal Justice System is one of the most effective treatment programs in the USA that is designed to serve all the inmates who have been hooked up into drug and substance abuse (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2006). It comprises of various sub-programs that target various groups of inmates such as women, minors and men. Treatment for offenders with co-occurring psychotic disorders is designed to address disorganized thought patterns and communication style whereby specialized approaches such as use of concrete concepts, avoiding harsh confrontation, and greater use of structured exercises and written materials are used. The main treatment components under this sub-program comprises of education in drug refusal skills, identification of strategies to fight boredom, building supportive social networks, and medication adherence. How the treatment addresses risk and protective factors and/or special needs of offender The risk and protective factors/or special needs of the offenders are addressed by these treatment initiatives in various ways. For instance, Project Arrive, which is also one of sub-programs of the Substance Abuse Treatment for Adults in the Criminal Justice System, was designed specifically for recently released parolees with histories of intravenous drug use-a population particularly vulnerable to resuming high-risk behaviors. All these programs are monitored keenly during the transition period (when levels of stress are very high and there is an increased risk for occurrence of substance abuse relapse, recidivism and mental health symptoms). Offenders with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are treated with extreme care because of their tendency towards violence, emotional instability and because of the risk of suicidal behaviors or self-destruction. These programs meet all the requirements recommended by the American Psychiatric Association, a body that requires people with BDP to be treated while considering factors such as co-occurring disorders (COD) such as anxiety disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and dissociative identity disorder, mood disorders, and eating disorders (especially bulimia). APA also requires program providers to consider the level of violence/antisocial behaviors, whether there is any likelihood of self-destructive behaviors, or whether there have been cases of childhood trauma and PTSD (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2006). Programs that treat offenders with COD have special feature that differentiated them from them other criminal justice substance abuse treatment programs. Some of these features include having a comprehensive treatment services that are flexible and individualized. Under this, both early and active interventions are adapted for various groups and for offenders with special needs such as those with cognitive impairment, women with trauma and abuse histories. The most common treatment approaches that are applied in this substance abuse treatment setting include TCs, cognitive-behavioral treatments, relapse prevention, peer and alumni support group since they are well adapted to better suit the needs of offenders with COD. In addition, treatment is provided in phases/stages while still using well-structured psychoeducational treatment approach. The key early stages of this treatment include assessment, orientation, development of treatment plans, as well as engagement and persuasion activities (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2006). The service providers and team members that should be involved in the treatment The focus of treatment for offenders with COD is usually long term, with an emphasis placed on continuity of treatment in aftercare and postrelease settings. Full stabilization and recovery of such offenders is achieved after a long time, usually after several years that are characterized by multiple episodes of treatment. COD treatment programs should provide linkage with other community treatment and ancillary service providers, and should develop detailed aftercare, transition, and post release plans to ensure continuity of services. The service providers and the team members who should be involved in this program include mental health treatment staff, substance abuse treatment staff, community supervision officers, correctional officers and criminal justice staff and all of them should participate in decision making. These should include provisions to furnish an adequate supply of psychotropic medications for the offender during transition from institutional to community programs and the offender should be monitored carefully during transition periods, when stress levels are high and there is increased risk for recurrence of mental health symptoms, substance abuse relapse, and recidivism (United States, 2011). How to address any potential complications with implementation of the program The most common complications that may arise during the treatment of offenders with COD particularly the youths include asymptomatic communicable diseases that may result in late complications in the individual; these diseases include hepatitis, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as gonorrhea, chlamydia infection, syphilis, trichomoniasis, or HIV. Other type of diseases though not very common include hypertension, seizure disorders, reactive airway diseases, diabetes, nutritional deficiency, rheumatic carditis, or conditions related to inadequately treated injury, such as chronic osteomyelitis (Rubin, Trawver & Springer, 2013). All these complications are addressed during the programs by ensuring that there is regular screening during the implementation of the programs and that swift medical measures are taken immediately to curb the problem before it graduates to a more serious problem. Finally, incorporate how the strategy can utilize a case management approach to provide a comprehensive individualized treatment program Case management services have been proven to improve clients’ functional status with little or no hospitalization during an extended follow-up period. A program focusing on treating inmates with COD can use two main models of case management namely the Intensive Case Management (ICM) and the Assertive Community Treatment model (ACT). Intensive Case Management (ICM) should be provided by teams from various disciplines such as healthcare staff substance abuse specialists, housing specialists, and community supervision officers. ACT involves elements such as supportive therapy, family psychoeducational groups, and family outreach activities among others (Velasquez & Maurer, 2011). Part 2 Significance of communication, collaboration, and cooperation among all treatment staff in Substance Abuse Treatment Effective communication, collaboration and cooperation among the staffs implementing a substance abuse treatment program are very vital and it determines the effectiveness of the substance treatment approach applied. Active communication and continuing dialogue among all key parties are essential thus calling for a pressing need for representatives of each of the groups involved to meet regularly to share information, assess progress, participate in cross-training, and determine future direction. It is important that all staff understand and the complex issues relating to substance abuse, defining terms and the agreed upon procedures at the top policymaking level, a factor that would facilitate the referral of substance abuse victims to treatment and improve the services provided to them. For instance, it is significant that all parties agree upon the release of information that does not violate the victims’ privacy and confidentiality (Velasquez & Maurer, 2011). Before any substance abuse treatment diversion program is implemented, a consent form that establishes the formal linkage among all systems dealing with the victims should be approved (Rubin, Trawver & Springer, 2013). Consent form usually specifies the information to be exchanged, the reason the information is needed, the way the information will be used, the agency that will receive the information and the date on which a consent to release information expires. Providers planning for the treatment should also actively involve the family even if the victim is not currently living at home, except in cases where the family presents a clear risk of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse (Velasquez & Maurer, 2011). Substance abuse treatment diversion programs must also identify ways of obtaining crucial information about the victims by encouraging the participation of the family. This can only be achieved by fostering cooperation of family members. In addition, a treatment-focused diversion program for persons with substance abuse disorders should be the product of a collaborative planning process whereby many organizations, ranging from substance abuse treatment services to physical and mental health and social services, as well as other community organizations, churches, and businesses, can play a role in designing and implementing the diversion program. Collaboration of these organizations is important and it plays a special role for maintaining services even during the times of low funding because such collaborations increases the opportunity to combine or reconfigure services to meet the identified needs of the community’s youth. The level of effectiveness of a program used also depends on the collaboration amongst all the professionals involved in the management substance using persons. Effective collaboration among all the stakeholders also prevents clients from “falling through the cracks” among independent and autonomous agencies and it is also the key to serving the client in the broadest possible context, beyond the boundaries of the substance abuse treatment agency and provider (Velasquez & Maurer, 2011). References Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (U.S.). (2006). KAP keys for clinicians: Based on TIP 44, substance abuse treatment for adults in the criminal justice system. Rockville, MD?: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Reyes, G., Elhai, J. D., & Ford, J. D. (2008). The encyclopedia of psychological trauma. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. Rubin, A., Trawver, K., & Springer, D. W. (2013). Psychosocial treatment of schizophrenia. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. United States. (2011). Adult probationers/parolees with mental illness in the criminal justice system. Washington, D.C: Criminal Services & Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia. Velasquez, M., & Maurer, G. (2011). Group Treatment for Substance Abuse: A Stages-of-Change Therapy Manual. New York: Guilford Press. Walters, S. T., & Rotgers, F. (2012). Treating substance abuse: Theory and technique. New York: Guilford Press. 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