Substance Dependence Treatment Problems - Essay Example

?"A Major Issue Or Problem In Group Treatment Of Substance Abuse" Introduction Substance abuse encompasses utilization of any stuff for changing the mood. It includes illicit drug use, solvents, anabolic steroids or use of impending addictive drugs which are normally not prescribed. Such drugs leads to serious implications on the health. One of the most choral amongst the recreational drugs is marijuana smoke. Promoters of drug use do not consider use of marijuana as an abuse but research studies carried out across the world reveals the injurious effect on the neurons thus displaying physical, mental and psychomotor effects on the individual, gradually culminating a habit of drug dependency called abuse. Theoretically, excessive use of any agent could turn out to be an abuse as there is only a feeble demarcation between the use and abuse. Some of the addictives which if not treated within time become abuse are alcohol, recommended or over the counter medications, over use of inhalants and solvents, excessive drinks such as coffee and cigarettes could also be considered as an abuse (What Is Substance Abuse?). The implications are so high that they alter the chemistry of the brain thereby affects neurotransmitters. Elements of substance abuse are therefore the generators of various disorders and hence the vicious cycle goes on. It is observed that once the tendency to utilize the addictive agent sets in it takes the hold of mental state of the individual. Thus substance abuse could be defined as " a maladaptive pattern of substance use defined by DSM-IV as resulting in recurrent and significant adverse consequences related to the repeated use of a drug. Substance abuse is not characterized in terms of tolerance and withdrawal; instead, it includes only the harmful consequences of repeated use, as when that use causes failure to fulfill obligations at work, school or home, becomes physically hazardous, or creates legal, social or interpersonal problems.” (Robbins, 2002). Drug addiction is therefore becoming a complex ailment that affects almost every aspect of the individual's life. It is the habit that not only affects the life of a person but also affects the family, the work place and also the community to which the individual belongs. It is essential to realize that drug abusers are never alone they are connected to other individuals of similar nature or with those who pester the use of drugs. Any kind of trauma or the stress in life has emerged as the chief reason for the drug or the substance abuse. This is well documented through research studies. On the other hand witnessing stressful or traumatic events could comprising of child abuse, sexual assault, natural disaster which has ruined life and belongings, war, negligent attitude of the family members incline the individual develop dependency towards alcohol or drug abuse. This act provides temporary relief from the stress due to the biological changes that take place in the body and thereby a temporary phase of relaxation occurs. This temporary phase culminates into the habit of the individual for these substances. Thus, response to the stress is different depending upon the kind of psychology an individual possess. It solely depends upon the upbringing, the family support and the atmosphere, the group or the community to which the individual belongs, the mental strength, the ability to reach to the solution even in difficult times, failing to do so leads to dependency on the substances that provide a temporary phase of relaxation from all the worries and stress. Once such means is adopted then it becomes the habit of the individual (Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A research Based Guide). In most of the cases such individuals are directed by the group they are associated with. For instance, a weak individual who is always bossed upon by others and wants to fight or take control over the group could become habitual of the drug use. In order to have an appropriate treatment for the drug abuse, it is mediated through a variety of activities and pharmacological advances. This includes, psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, prescription and medicine based therapy, case organization and other services. By undergoing such treatment, the individual may come out of the disorder but in cases where the individual is associated with the group and the entire group knows about the person it becomes difficult. He/ she may try to change the topic or would not like to speak about the past usage or addiction behavior or would like to erase the memories of the past then the symptoms of recovery could be established (Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A research Based Guide). There are certain cases where dealings are not confined to the physician's clinics but also mental health clinics as well. This group encompass counselors, physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and social workers (Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A research Based Guide). Counsellors do provide the abusers with the understanding towards the life and what is good from the health point of view. On the other hand psychologists give them a psychological understanding. They try to fix the issue of the drug abuse by means of psychological viewpoint. These dealings could be either- individualized drug counselling or the group counselling. Individualized Counselling Individual counselling encompasses focus on tumbling or impeding illegal drug or alcohol, or any kind of substance abuse. It deals with various issues that directly or indirectly influences the individual's life based on which the individual has adopted such means to undergo substance abuse. These areas involves- The employment status- where the individual is not able to cope with the growing competition and lagging somewhere to meet up to the expectations of the job requirement. Such heartburn could be eliminated with the temporary phase of relaxation by adopting substance abuse. Illegal activity- This encompasses any act that was done either knowingly or by mistake, which is against the laws, or the violations of the rules. Such actions bring a kind of guilt in the mind of the individual forcing him/her to be dependent on certain substances that could generate a kind of temporary relief from the worries of the illegal act and the legal actions and proceedings. Family/ social relationships- Stressed family life, not able to keep up sound relationship with the spouse, stressed family atmosphere, abusing each other for the situations could result in the dependency on certain substance that relieves the mind from all the worries for some time. Social aloofness, not able to cope with the relationships, divorce, family member's ill health, economic burden culminates to the stressful situation that results in the dependency on drug or any substance abuse. It is the responsibility of the counsellors to provide the individual with the coping tools to deal with situations. It is essential for the individual to follow such measures to remove the habit of substance abuse. Individual counselling aids in abstaining from the drug abuse and also it helps to retain such absence. On the other hand drug abuse is known to involve the entire crew. Therapeutics therefore try to fix the problem with the entire group and hence they perform group counselling. Group Counselling Counsellors generally ask the victim of drug abuse how it started in order to trace out the roots of its origin and to understand what are the circumstances that paved the way for the drug abuse. In the process of so doing it is essential to understand the people with whom the individual is associated with. In certain cases it becomes essential to perform a group therapy. Many beneficial surroundings employ group therapy to take advantage of the communal fortification obtainable through examining and discussing to encourage drug-free existence. Group Therapy Research reveals that when group therapy is accessible in combination with individualized drug psychotherapy or with cognitive-behavioural therapy or eventuality organization, optimistic and constructive results are accomplished. It is directed to provide benefit to the individual. Thus group therapy is totally based on improving the ability to cope with the issues that directly affects the lives. May it require the individual counselling or the group counselling but an entire team of workers work in order to provide a therapy to eradicate the emotional difficulties and to encourage the personal development of the participants in the group. The group discusses the issues and the events that one is witnessing that are affecting the individual. It involves a large variety of the issues that are related with interpersonal skills that lead to the problems like anxiety, depression etc that culminates into the substance abuse (Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A research Based Guide). Problems related with Group Therapy The substance abuse issues related with group therapy encompasses matters related with expression. The group may involve females and males, social workers, psychotherapists, physicians etc. If the substance abuse is discussed right from the history of the onset of the problem then it may focus on the other issues as well which may encompass the issue of child abuse, social aloofness, sexual assault, rape, illegal relationships, broken relationships, unsuccessful marriages etc. All these may become public which a female will never like as it not only embarrassing but also affects her professional as well as personal life. On the other hand if the male is allowed to have an open discussion, it is troublesome to express everything in front of others. This hindrance may not provide the complete situation analysis and therefore the total situation may not be worked out, as based on what the individual reveals in front of the group the analysis and therapeutic measures are provided. Psychotherapy is also provided on the basis of the feedback given by the victim. Moreover, the psychotherapy is a constant procedure and there is a regular sittings for the same and there is a going to be a constant revelation of the intimate issues and about the habits of substance abuse. This facilitates in taking the psychology onto a different platform which may not work well in certain cases, especially with the females. Women undergone sexual assault may not like being asked about the happening that paved the way for the substance abuse as it revives the memories of the past which she wants to wipe off. Under such circumstances group therapy may not work well and it is liable that the individual may not come for the therapy counselling any more. It has emerged as teh biggest disadvantage of the psychotherapy. Conclusion The studies conducted with group therapy may work well in the situations where only psychological dealings are required, but in the cases of substance abuse it becomes difficult to deal with the group therapy. Females show more level of absenteeism from their group therapy as they do not want to bring the matter of any kind of assaults into focus and also in front of the entire group or may not like to expose their past incidence in front of the public. As females are more vulnerable to get victimized they defend themselves from such situations by adopting a silence mode. It is therefore difficult to know about such cases and how far they are true in their persuasion about the therapy to eliminate the substance abuse issues. On the other hand it is also difficult for the non-cooperative males to follow the tools provided by the therapist to be relieved from the substance abuse. For the success of the group therapy it is essential to gain the confidence of the individual at the first instance so that the individual could confide on the counsellor(s). This will help the counsellors and psychotherapists to have an insight about the situation and could then devise a meaningful methodology to provide the individual with an appropriate and feasible treatment. In the present scenario cases are measured before and after treatment to determine therapeutic effectiveness. References What Is Substance Abuse?. Available at http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/drugs/a/aa030425a.htm. [Accessed on 3rd Aug' 2011]. Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A research Based Guide. Available at http://drugabuse.gov/podat/TreatmentUS.html. [Accessed on 3rd Aug' 2011]. Robbins, G., Powers, D., Burgess, S. (Eds.). A Wellness Way Of Life (5th ed.), McGraw-Hill Higher Education. New York, NY (2002). Read More