Counseling For Alcohol And Drug Abuse

At the beginning of my training, I was hesitant to work with people struggling with addiction. However, at this point, I am excited to begin working with this population. The raw honesty presented in the group setting along with the anger at the possibility of losing a safe place created a dynamic I wanted to further explore. Research supports that individuals attending group therapy in a 12 step program format succeed if they have the proper support and motivation (Cite). The group dynamic demonstrated that recovery takes time and self-discovery, similar to other situations dealt with in therapy. Subsequently, by using my sense of self and humor with clients struggling with addiction, I can help them in their journey. Furthermore, the client needs to identify accountability at their own pace in the process and not when others dictate. This knowledge and the personalization of addiction will aid me in the future support of my

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,

When most people think of substance abuse and addiction counseling they often only think of the 12 step program or alcoholics anonymous. The truth is that an addiction counselor must have a vast knowledge in the

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.

I feel the 12-Step program is successful because others who can empathize, offer advice, and understand exactly what the other is going through are there for support and encouragement. By the time you decide to enter the meeting you are usually self-aware that there is a problem and you want to help yourself; to me that can and will make all the difference in determining your success in the program. I really like that 12-Step Programs are faith based, I think believing in something bigger than yourself is crucial to the process. I also like that its catered to a lifestyle change overall, not just one singular change like to stop drinking but changing the way you live your

The NA meeting is a support group consisting of men and women that are recovering addicts who meet regularly to stay clean. The NA group practices twelve-steps of NA. These support groups offer social and psychological support for many years following abstinence from drugs. Members will learn social and prevention skills that will decrease the risk of relapsing (Keene, 2001). Twelve Step programs are free programs as a supplement to treatment and are associated with positive outcomes to maintain sobriety. Hence the reason providers encourage twelve-step program

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).

The 12-step program gives the impression that it has the capability of helping clients through alcohol abuse in its systematic, recovery-focused, and empathetic approach. AA’s 12 steps, from having “admitted we were powerless over alcohol…” to “having a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps” helps guide a person from alcoholism to sobriety (Alcoholics Anonymous [AA], 2001, pp. 59-60). The steps are easy-to-follow ‘checkpoints’ in the steps to sobriety, and because they are verbalized at every meeting, they reinforce a recovery mindset from alcoholism. This recovery approach emphasized in AA minimizes any particular focus on past struggles and magnifies progress, and as a member described, the group’s positivity and numerous success stories encouraged them to continue being sober (Personal communication, November 15,

Addiction is a medical condition. It is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry (Halter, 2014). There is no real difference between alcoholism and drug addiction, other than the substance of choice being different. In both cases, use of alcohol or drugs continues despite the presence of related problems and a tendency to relapse. This paper includes a student nurse’s experience of two twelve-step meetings: Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Tracy Fellowship AA Group had meeting at 2531 North Holly Drive, Tracy, CA-95376 on September 24, 2014. The NA meeting was at 219 East Poplar Street in Stockton at 12 pm on September 25, 2014.

There are over 23 million people, 12 and older, living in the United States who are in need of substance abuse treatment (Atkins & Hawdon, 2007). Effective support groups are needed to address an individual’s substance abuse while also take into consideration their beliefs. Atkins and Hawdon (2007) noted despite the popularity and effectiveness of 12-step support groups, a common dominator among individuals who reject them are the concepts surrounding the religious connotation associated with these groups. Without treatment, the effects of substance abuse can be devastating. Significant social and economic ramification such as death and overwhelming financial expenses are two critical outcomes correlated with substance abuse. DeLucia et

While recovery from substance abuse is low and difficult to sustain for any period of abstinence, many individuals argue that the 12 steps are NOT the ONLY way to get sober. Studies have concluded there are other ways; here is one study;

Recovery programs are a structured combination of individual courses of treatment within a drug and alcohol treatment center. Those recovery programs that are designed using a 12-step model plan elements of treatment that incorporate the 12-step “model of self-change” that is intended to essentially create a new life for the recovering addict. The self-imposed model of change description means that recovery programs, focused on this concept, affect change in the addicted person in ways that positively influence self-esteem, attitude, perception, life style, and behaviors; while encouraging self-actualization and new purpose. 12-step recovery programs teach the addict to: Effectively control cravings, how to talk with unsupportive family and friends, what to expect when encountering

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.

The program begins with the first step which is the admission of having no power over drugs or alcohol and that life has become unmanageable. The second step is the belief that a power greater than the self can restore sanity. The third step is the will to turn your life over to the God of your understanding. The fourth step is to make a fearless moral inventory of self, to take a closer look at your life. The fifth step is to admit to God, yourself, and another person, the nature of all wrongs. The sixth step is the readiness to have God remove all character defects. The seventh step is asking the Higher Power to remove all shortcomings. The eighth step is to make a list of all people that you have harmed and make amends. The ninth step is to make direct amends wherever possible, with the exception of doing so would injure them or others in the process. The tenth step is continuing to take inventory of wrongs and promptly admitting those wrongs when recognized. The eleventh step is seeking the God of your understanding through prayer and meditation, asking for only knowledge of His will and the ability to carry that out. The final step, step twelve, is a spiritual awakening as a result of practicing these steps, and the ability to carry these messages to other addicts while practicing the principles learned in all affairs (The Twelve Steps Illustrated,

Although, this program follows the twelve step program of Alcohol Anonymous, its primary outlook is to provide psychological and emotional support to each member through self-contributions and the ability to help others food addicts to achieve abstinence. It is not affiliated with any other diet or weight loss programs, treatment facilities or religious organizations. With that said, the twelve steps consist of admittance, believing, decision, searching, acceptance, readiness, humbling, changes, forgiveness, persistence, knowledge, and practice. Each of these steps is a psychological approach that each member must go through to overcome their addiction to food. There is no avoidance of a step.