Substance Abuse Treatment

PROFILE OF A DRUG ABUSER

MOST PEOPLE IN TREATMENT ARE BETWEEN 18-25 YEARS OF AGE

MANY DRUG ABUSERS SUFFER FROM MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

30-40% OF DRUG ABUSERS ARE HOMELESS

THOSE IN TREATMENT USE MULTIPLE DRUGS

BENEFITS OF DRUG TREATMENT

LESS EXPENSIVE THAN INCARCERATION

ILLICIT DRUG USE IS REDUCED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY DECLINES MORE STABLE EMPLOYMENT REDUCED TRANSMISSION OF

BLOODBORNE INFECTIONS

Components to Treatment

1. Detoxification2. Counseling3. Support Groups

DETOXIFICATION

THE GOAL OF DETOXIFICATION IS SAFE WITHDRAWAL

ANOTHER GOAL FOR DETOXIFICATION IS PROVIDING FOR A HUMANE WITHDRAWAL

DETOXIFICATION SHOULD PREPARE THE CLIENT FOR ONGOING TREATMENT

COUNSELING

AFTER DETOXIFICATION IT IS CRITICAL FOR THE CLIENT TO BE COUNSELED TO BEGIN TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES THAT WERE CENTRAL TO USING DRUGS AS A COPING MECHANISM

SUPPORT GROUPS

SUPPORT GROUPS ARE IMPORTANT TO ASSIST THE CLIENT TO STAY CLEAN AND SOBER

TREATMENT ISSUES

VOLUNTARY VERSUS COMPULSORY TREATMENT

MATCHING PATIENTS AND TREATMENT

TREATING ADOLESCENT DRUG ABUSERS

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH TREATMENT

CLIENT RESISTANCE TO TREATMENT COMMUNITY RESISTANCE CLIENT PREFERS CONTINUING DRUG

USE RELAPSE PERSONEL RECRUITMENT AND

RETENTION

TREATMENT PROGRAMS

METHADONE MAINTENANCE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES OUTPATIENT TREATMENT INPATIENT TREATMENT SELF-HELP GROUPS

METHADONE MAINTENANCE

METHADONE IS A SYNTHETIC DRUG THAT ELIMINATES WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS FROM OPIATES AND PREVENTS AN OPIATE ADDICT FROM EXPERIENCING EUPHORIA

METHADONE MAINTENANCE IS EFFECTIVE ONLY FOR HEROIN

METHADONE MAINTENANCE

THE DEMAND FOR METHADONE MAINTENANCE IS HIGH

WAITING LISTS FOR METHDONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS CAN BE UP TO ONE YEAR

THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES (TC) ARE DRUG-

FREE RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS WHERE ABUSERS RESIDE FOR 1-2 YEARS

TCs STRESS GROUP INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES AND LIFE IN A TC IS VERY STRUCTURED WITH CLIENTS BEING GIVEN CHORES (HENCE COMMUNITY)

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN TCs IS THE HIGH DROPOUT RATE

OUTPATIENT TREATMENT

OUTPATIENT TREATMENT INCLUDES COUNSELING, GROUP THERAPY, VOCATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

INPATIENT TREATMENT

INPATIENT TREATMENT ARE HOSPITAL BASED

INPATENT TREATMENT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE NO MORE EFFECTIVE THAN INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT

SELF-HELP GROUPS

SELF-HELP GROUPS HELP PEOPLE TO STAY CLEAN AND SOBER

EXAMPLES INCLUDE ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS

ALCOHOLIC ANYONMOUS IS A POPULAR SELF-HELP GROUP THAT FOLLOWS A 12 STEP MODEL

REASONS FOR NOT SEEKING TREATMENT

UNAVAILABILITY OF FACILITIES COST OF TREATMENT STIGMATIZATION FACILITY PHILOSOPHY SOME PREFER DRUG USE FEAR OF BECOMING KNOWN TO LAW

ENFORCEMENT

FACTORS THAT PREVENT DRUG RELAPSE

Marriage Steady Employment Compulsory Supervision New Relationships Belonging to a Desirable Group A Substitute Dependency

ALCOHOL TREATMENT

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS MODERATE DRINKING DISULFIRAM NALTREXONE

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE 12 STEP

MODEL IS THAT A PERON ADMITS TO BEING POWERLESS OVER ALCOHOL AND CANNOT OVERCOME ALCOHOLISM WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FROM A HIGHER POWER (RELIGIOUS CONVICTION IS IMPORTANT)

THE ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR AA IS THE DESIRE TO STOP DRINKING

MODERATE DRINKING

MODERATE DRINKING IS A CONTROLLED DRINKING APPROACH WHEREBY THE ALCOHOLIC CAN RESUME DRINKING IN A MODERATE WAY

AN EXAMPLE OF MODERATE DRINKING INCLUDES MODERATION MANAGEMENT (MM)

DISULFIRAM (ANTABUSE)

DILSULFIRAM (ANTABUSE) IS A DRUG THAT WHEN TAKEN ACTS AS AN ADVERSIVE AGENT BY INTERACTING WITH ALCOHOL IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE DRINKER BECOMES VIOLENTLY ILL WHEN HE/SHE COMSUMES ALCOHOL

NALTREXONE

NALTREXONE TRADITIONALLY IS USED TO BLOCK THE EFFECTS OF OPIATES BUT HAS BEEN SHOWN EFFECTIVE IN ALCOHOL TREATMENT

Summary Most people in treatment are between 18-25

years of age Substance abuse treatment has documented

benefits Detoxifcation, counseling, and support groups

are key elements to treatment There are a wide variety of treatment options

available The more structure to one’s life relapse is less

likely