Groups and Substance Abuse Treatment - Research Paper Example

Groups and Substance Abuse Treatment Research Paper: Groups and Substance Abuse Treatment Introduction Substance addiction has now become a serious threat for the country. With the increased numbers of individuals being affected by substance addiction, there are broad majors taken on both governmental and non-governmental levels. Recent surveys reveal that the treatments for substance use disorders have also increased. The most effective and practiced treatment is the group therapy through psychotherapeutic treatment also known as substance abuse treatment. The purpose of this paper is to design an eight week substance abuse treatment mentioning the goals and objectives for each week. Furthermore, the research paper will present various exercises for the treatment. The psycho-educational treatment selected for this research paper is Substance Abuse Treatment and the target population of the eight week treatment plan are the individuals who are addicted and are dependent on psychoactive substances i.e. alcohol, prescribed drugs, street drugs, etc. the overall aim of this eight week plan is to ensure that each individual in the group can resist drugs and other substance abuse (Flores, Georgi, & Div., 2005; Velasquez & Maurer, 2011). Week One: 1- Goal for the Week: During this week, the overall aim and purpose of the treatment plan will be elaborated to the target group. The group will be presented with an overview regarding the substance abuse and its treatment. 2- Measureable Learning Objectives: Since the entire week is dedicated for understanding the issue, therefore it will allow the group (target) to understand the problem in a detailed manner as well as to know other group members. They will have an understanding regarding the therapeutic forces i.e. peer confrontation, support and affiliation etc. 3- How objectives will be met: the objectives will be met with the help of various lectures, group understanding and peer support, and demonstration of gratification. 4- Activities: Interactive activities such as sharing their favorite habit, hobbies, etc. this will allow them to know each other better, while the professionals can get an insight regarding the personality of the group member (Flores, Georgi, & Div., 2005; Velasquez & Maurer, 2011). Week Two: 1- Goal for the Week: the goal for second week is to identify the therapeutic group i.e. which group model will be best for the individuals and to effectively implement it. Skill Development and cognitive behavior group model will be practiced for the rest of the plan. 2- Measureable Learning Objectives: Individuals are able to achieve and maintain abstinence and are able to resist from the drugs and other addictive substances. 3- How objectives will be met: Week one will allow the professionals to understand the personalities of each group member this will help in identifying which individual is dependent on which substance or drug and to what extent, and then they will implement certain strategies that will illustrate the cons of substance abuse. 4- Activities: Activities for this week will include film screening and reading of past researches. This will help the group members to understand the adverse impacts of substance abuse and will help in its resistance (Velasquez & Maurer, 2011; Flores, Georgi, & Div., 2005). Week Three: 1- Goal for the Week: the goal for this week is to identify the methods and techniques using the group substance abuse models. 2- Measureable Learning Objectives: the successfully execute the models and strategies for motivating the group members with the help of strong leadership skills. 3- How objectives will be met: The objectives will be met with the help of strong leadership qualities. The leaders should be an active listener, confident, enthusiastic, and trusting. 4- Activities: The activity for this week is story writing. Group members will write short stories, telling about their own experience of substance abuse and how they started using drugs and other abusive substances. This will allow the leaders to understand the nature of each group member and the circumstances in which he or she got involved in the issue (Velasquez & Maurer, 2011; Flores, Georgi, & Div., 2005). Week Four: 1- Goal for the Week: the goal for this week is to form a therapeutic alliance and to illustrate the need of understanding each other’s differences. Since, it is not essential that all the group members must have the same background and can be different from each other on the basis of gender or disorder. 2- Measureable Learning Objectives: to ensure that all group members understand the importance and need of each other differences. 3- How objectives will be met: The objectives will be met through preparation, involvement, services, and the feedback. This will not only allow the existing group members to attain the goal of the week but will also attract new members. 4- Activities: Discussions and conversations over certain topics. This will show how each group member differ from each other and to what extent they agree with other group members (Velasquez & Maurer, 2011; Flores, Georgi, & Div., 2005). Week Five: 1- Goal for the Week: The goal for this week is to add flexibility in the overall treatment plan. Since, effective treatment should have the tendency to adjust with the demands of the group members. During the period of recovery their overall condition and approach will transform, therefore, the plan and the treatment must change with their requirements. 2- Measureable Learning Objectives: To motivate the clients regardless of the fact that whether or not they are experiencing any change in their condition. Leaders should not let them feel vulnerable at any interval of the treatment. 3- How objectives will be met: this is again in the hands of the leaders and the effectiveness of the strategy and treatment plan that whether it is capable of engaging the group members efficiently or not. 4- Activities: Observation and self assessment. Allow each group member to write about their journey and the treatment so far. This will indicate the direction in which the treatment for that particular group member is going. Read the paper aloud in front of other group members and observe if other group members agree or deny to the facts and experience (Flores, Georgi, & Div., 2005). Week Six: 1- Goal for the Week: To draw attention of the group members towards certain positive developments that has been made with the help of this treatment. This is to ensure that the group members are strong and confident enough to face challenges and situations in their life, on their own. 2- Measureable Learning Objectives: It has been observed that group members are dependent on leaders in the initial stage. At this stage the main objective is to ensure that group members are able to confront issues and emotional attacks. 3- How objectives will be met: The objectives for this week will be met with the help of activities and tasks. 4- Activities: The group members will be asked to handle different situations and will be emotionally attacked. Leaders will analyze their tolerance and their capability to handle the situation (Velasquez & Maurer, 2011; Flores, Georgi, & Div., 2005). Week Seven: 1- Goal for the Week: The goal for the seventh week is to identify and present the group facilitation skills and its overall content. It is important that while the treatment and the group members have set the agenda, someone (a leader most probably) will have to analyze whether things are going in the right direction or not and whether the applied treatment plan is productive or not. 2- Measureable Learning Objectives: The objective for the seventh week is to ensure that the plan has worked well and in the right manner. To understand whether the cognitive behavior and skill development models were practiced effectively. 3- How objectives will be met: The leader will assess the overall objective with the help of group facilitation skills. 4- Activities: Conduct interviews with the group members in order to analyze the effectiveness of the treatment and whether they are benefitted from it or not (Flores, Georgi, & Div., 2005). Week Eight: 1- Goal for the Week: To assess the implementation of group facilitation skills and the treatment of the group of substance abuse through psycho-education plan. 2- Measureable Learning Objectives: To know whether or not the group members are finally independent and have learnt through the treatment. Another major objective of the last week of the treatment is to understand that the models adopted and the leadership style practiced have been effective or not 3- How objectives will be met: These objectives can be easily assessed with the help of individual tests and feedback. The group members will show a positive change in their behavior and would have learnt skills and techniques to counter and overcome emotions and complex situations. 4- Activities: Final test and a written short story about their overall experience regarding the treatment. This will help in understanding that if the substance abuse treatment plan has been successful or not and whether it has brought any change in the lives of the group members (Flores, Georgi, & Div., 2005). Group Closure: after successfully analyzing and assessing each individuals test and story, leaders will present remarks and the group members will be asked to keep in touch after a regular interval of time and to provide feedback of their life after the treatment, if they are experiencing any change in their life and how has the treatment helped them in not depending on the abusive substances (Flores, Georgi, & Div., 2005; Velasquez & Maurer, 2011). Reference Flores, P. J., Georgi, J. M., & Div., M. (2005). Substance Abuse Treatment:Group Therapy. Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Velasquez, M., & Maurer, G. (2011). Group Treatment for Substance Abuse : a Stages-of-Change Therapy Manual. New York: Guilford Press. Read More