Essay about Substance Abuse Recovery

The 12-Step program addresses the factors or causes that are responsible for, or related to, substance abuse by helping individuals to understand the concept of change. “Processes of change are the covert and overt activities that people engage in to alter affect, thinking,

Dr. Jarlais’ statement would surely raise eyebrows at the next research convention but is that what we can base the tremendous acceptance and success rate of AA on? In my personal experience, I can agree with the supporters of the 12-step method. The reasons are many but one comes to mind each time I read the opposing views – Are we complex human beings or lab rats? Is it necessary as recovering addicts and psychodynamic therapists alike to use a scientific approach to confirm the resounding results? AA works and if personal response or “storytelling” along with the admitting that we are powerless over our addictions helps, well, that is enough proof for me. Terry M. states, “Our primary goal is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.” (Terry M. 1998) This statement is enough proof that I believe the people who attend AA are more useful than any scientific influences. A Dr. and a patient formed AA; this alone also shows the importance to respect what has been a foundation to recovery – the honesty and no judgement policy of recovery.

Treatment guidelines from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicate that treatment should include age-appropriate group therapy, and teach skills to rebuild social support networks (Trevisan, 2008). Staff need to be experienced in working with the elderly and use a slower pace and age-appropriate content. Respect with an atmosphere of support and change rather than confrontation should be created in the therapeutic setting. Three medications have been approved for treatment of alcohol problems; however, there are few pharmacological treatment studies of alcohol dependence in older adults and no know studies of other drugs of abuse (Trevisan, 2008). These three medications include Disulfiram, Naltrexone, and Acamprosate (Trevisan, 2008).

Substance abuse as well as addiction is a topic many people choose to ignore or tend to believe that it does not affect them. Addiction itself does not seek out certain types of people but can affect anyone, at any time, for any reason. Stress, per pressure, financial trouble, even genetics all play a role in substance abuse and addiction. Unlike others, I don’t see substance abusers as weak willed but instead in need of guidance and someone to talk to about their problems. That is why, when I decided to go to school I was very interested in becoming an Addiction Counselor. I am one of those types of people who really enjoy learning new things and coming up with solutions for myself or others. The biggest reason that I decided to go to college was to find a job that I was actually fascinated with and wouldn’t dread going to work day in and day out. The biggest concern I have for my future job is stability and job availability. One area that I don’t really find high on my priority list is the money. I want to be able to make enough that I can survive and even thrive at times but I’m not looking for a job just for the financial gain. If I’m going to spend my life in a working profession it might as well be doing something I love.

The premise for AA, and later NA, comes from two alcoholics (one a surgeon) who could not maintain sobriety from alcohol on their own. The concept of abstinence as a necessary component of wellness was born, and it remains the cornerstone of twelve-step support programs. The value of Twelve Step support and recovery programs is immeasurable. Sustained recovery highly correlates with regular participation in a Twelve Step program (http://bit.ly/1hmY9yy).

Above, research has shown the importance of including spirituality in addiction recovery. However, unfortunately there are some programs that believe otherwise. Therefore, this section will examine a non-spiritual addiction recovery based program, Rational Recovery, in order to highlight the differences a non-spiritual program exhibits and how it can hinder one’s recovery. Rational Recovery was founded in 1986 by Jack Trimpey, a clinical social worker (Rational Recovery Systems, Inc. 2016). Trimpey’s program is a completely opposite approach than that of twelve step programs rooted in spirituality. Rational Recovery’s approach to addiction is also misguided and problematic initially though their definition

The twelve step program is a therapy session, treatments are set up to meet the body, mind and spiritual needs of the patient, the idea is to rebuild a life, not just get someone off of drugs. The individuals could be put on the medications needed to keep the urge away from going back to their addiction.

That is a success rate of just over a third and that 's only for one organization. Alcoholics Anonymous utilizes the 12-Step program, which is a common guideline throughout most alcohol treatment centers. However, treatment centers also utilize a variety of other treatment options that are designed to help you physically, emotionally, and psychologically overcome your addiction.

For most alcohol and substance abuse users this means that he or she have accepted the they are powerless over their addiction. They have move pass the stage of precontemplation, which is denial of a problem/addiction. The following article looks to determine what may be the results of addicts who continues twelve-step programs verses addicts who dropout within weeks of participation. Do in fact the length of time that an addict remains in the program leads to longer time lengths of sobriety?

Recovery is a process and not something that happens overnight. Relapse still remains a challenge in and during the recovery process Relapse can happen at any time, even after years of sobriety. When addicted to something the brain is altered, this sets a person up for relapse and leaves them vulnerable to their addiction. Long-term recovery is attainable, as long as the right form of treatment is used, and as long as the treatment plan is intended for the specific needs of the individual. Addiction causes many changes and (it’s not enough [to] simply get a person off drugs…[the] physical, social, [and] psychological [needs] must also be addressed to help people to stay off drugs for good.) Relapse takes a toll on everyone who is invested in

People’s ability to manage their health related behaviors may occur along a spectrum ranging from highly controlled at one end to profoundly disordered at the other. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s 2009 National Survey, Drug Use and Health Report, found that 22.2 million people in the United States met the criteria established for a substance use or dependence diagnosis. Out of those identified, only 2 million are estimated to seek treatment in a given year and less than half of that population will be able to maintain their sobriety after leaving a therapeutic environment. Based on these statistics “the overwhelming majority of

The third and final stage of recovery is known as late recovery, and involves a client finding growth and meaning in life. In this stage, relapse may be less frequent as a sense of purpose is found. As this stage is found only by enduring great challenges, a client may not be as tempted by relapse and the act of back tracking in their recovery may seem tiresome and unworthy of their time. However, though a deep awareness of the consequences of substance abuse is profound, relapse is still possible if an addict forgets that he or she has a disease that is incurable and succumbs to the enticement of “just this one time can’t hurt” or has the thought that “I have been clean for so long. I am cured.” Bill W. stated in his book Alcoholics Anonymous that “This is the baffling feature of alcoholism as we know it-this utter inability to leave it alone, no matter how great the necessity or the wish” (pg. 34). Complete abstinence is the only choice for those with the disease of addiction, and so many recovering addicts forget this simple realization in the late recovery stage.

Some people argue that the 12-Step model doesn’t really work and people should seek other forms of treatment. However, there are studies that argue different ways that the 12-Step programs have helped people recover and overcome addiction and have provided continuity during aftercare once a person has returned to normal life after treatment.

Relapse prevention has not been steadily practiced or openly accepted as a form of treatment, until more recent years. It was originally introduced in the 1980’s, by Alan Marlatt, but was not held in the highest regard because the general concept or purpose of relapse prevention was not yet understood. However, as time passed, a better understanding of RP treatment has been established and both professionals and clients can better cope with relapse related issues without the overwhelming negativity that was once associated with it. Even though, different versions of RP have evolved through research by other professionals, the main goal of RP has remained the same, teaching individuals who suffer with addiction disorders and changing their behaviors how to foresee and cope with relapse (Donovan & Witkiewitz, 2012). Therefore, counselors and patients should be

There is a great deal of misconceptions about 12 Step programs, and people generally have been misguided. Some of these false beliefs are that 12 Step programs are “Cults,” they are for old people, they are religious, they brainwash people, sometimes they make you want to drink or use after going to a meeting. These notions are false and inaccurate. It is usually individuals that have gone to the meetings for a short amount of time and they are unable to sustain consistency. These individuals do not get involved in service and they often return to using drugs or drinking again due to “not being done,” with using substances.