Intervention of Doctors - Essay Example

Social workers, alcohol and drug counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, and vocational rehabilitation programs have used brief interventions to treat substance abuse problems such as alcohol. Once alcohol abuse disorder has been identified, the substance abuser is first evaluated for the process of change (Miller and Gold, 2011). Initial care providers state that many brief interventions are effective in treating substance abuse. Brief interventions include encouraging substance abusers to attend detoxification welfare groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) by involving themselves in short, structured meetings to help individuals stop substance abuse.

According to Miller and Gold, five stages have been identified as an individual’s progress toward healthy habits. These included pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. After the screening, medical service providers conduct brief interventions to relate alcohol and drugs to injury. Brief intervention includes; assessment and feedback on the alcohol consumption behavior, knowledge of the health consequences of consumption, strategies to reduce drinking behavior, and objective setting and behavioral modification mechanisms. Brief interventions are procedures for substance abusers' reformation. Patients at the pre-contemplation stage must have their awareness raised. Patients at the contemplation stage should be assisted to choose positive change over current consumption behavior. At the action stage, the patients need assistance to carry out and stick to the change process. Healthcare providers use motivation for particular behavior changes to encourage a course of change.

The essential element of brief intervention can be recalled using the acronym FRAMES, it is a focused, time-specific process (Miller and Gold, 2011). It encompasses three motivation elements i.e. responsibility, self-efficacy, and empathy which are with the combination of cognitive elements (feedback based on current alcohol consumption behavior, advice about the recommended change. Psychiatrists or psychologists must be keen listeners and put effort to understand patients’ points of view. They should be empathetic, respectful, and non-judgmental.

Natural recovery is the process whereby, alcohol addicts are able to escape their addiction without professional help and treatment (Klingemann and Linda, 2007). Natural recovery is self-change, self-recovery, spontaneous remission, spontaneous recovery, or self-maintained moderation. Individuals who choose the natural recovery way are highly motivated and have self-belief in their ability. Patients feel strong enough to give up or moderate their drinking habits. Scientist though agrees that more research needs to be done on natural recovery from drug addiction.

A study conducted by Rousaville and Kleber consisted of groups of patients with addictions who sought professional help and another group that sought natural recovery (Thyer & Wodarski, 1998). Both groups had similar characteristics in substance abuse. Findings showed that the natural recovery patients showed more adequate social functioning, lower rates of depressive disorders, and few substance-related legal issues. The patients who sought professional treatment received almost equivalent or higher ratings. Graeven and Graeven (as cited in Thyer and Wodarski, 1998) focused on treating, and untreated teenagers addicted to heroin. The naturally recovering and treated addicts were separated, which contributed to a more reliable analysis. Results showed that naturally recovering students were less likely to cause trouble in school; they possessed high esteem than the treated student addicts. It was held that the untreated were more likely to stop heroin than the treated ones. Studies show that the majority of people with alcohol problems can reform through natural recovery. Evidence from a survey conducted on alcoholics shows that they may recover through self-change and may have fewer alcohol problems. They seem to be less dependent. Self-change has been identified as a pathway to redemption from alcoholism. However, scientist concludes that more studies need to be conducted to research the various ethnic tribes and how their self-change may vary and the differences of patients who recover on their own depending on their characteristics (Klingemann & Linda, 2007).