How Aftercare Treatment Is A Vital Part Of Alcohol And Substance Abuse

This paper will try to explain the different views of how and why Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs are accepted and rejected as effective tools in treating alcoholism and other addictions. The articles reviewed contradict the others’ opinion. First, we see that supporting the 12-step programs with a degree of involvement both the doctor and patient will see better results in treating the addiction. The second view will show that 12-step programs can be used as “self-help” treatment and must be used in conjunction with other forms of rehabilitation. When AA and other 12-step programs are not used with other forms of treatment, the patient tends to become codependent on the group.

Psychoeducational groups relating to additions or substance abuse are designed to assist participants in their stages of change, learn about recovery, provide information to families to understand behaviors, and to assist participants with resources and skills (U.S Department of Health and Human Services, n.d). Psychoeducational groups will support participants and encourage them to take responsibility for their actions. These groups will utilize different methods to replace addictive behavior and practice mindfulness to work on any cognitive impairment that their addiction has produced (U.S Department of Health and Human Service, n.d). In addition, substance abuse or addiction psychoeducational groups provide participants support and peer confrontation. Other members are able to support the group by offering education about what has worked well for them, or what has not work well. The group processes also provides emotional support for members to assist in personal recovery.

Addiction to any substance whether it be alcohol ,drugs prescribed or illegal or even the new legal highs can have turbulent effect on a person’s life, whether it be work, social or family life. It has been said that addiction in any form can be treated through intervention by relevant bodies, such as NHS Trust, Twelve Step Programs, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), to help the person overcome this compulsion through time and guidance, working towards a future clean and sober minded life. Drugs, alcohol, or any other chemical, artificially induced into the body, affects the way people see, speak, walk and hear. Albeit, theorists such as Dr Peele are staunch critics of the 12 steps model as advocated by Alcoholics Anonymous.

Substance abuse recovery programs fundamentally apply a twelve-step program to help clients attain sobriety. Novins et al., discovered “the development of the substance abuse service system in

One out of every thirteen adults are considered to be an alcoholic or to suffer from drinking problems. Alcoholism is a developmental disease that progresses slowly over a number of years and is based on both the physical and emotional dependency on alcohol. In many cases it leads to brain damage or early death. Alcoholism is a chromic disease, which means that it will last a person’s lifetime. The risk for developing alcoholism is influenced by both a person’s genes and their lifestyle.

In the article, “Substance Dependence Recovery Rates: With and Without Treatment,” The recovery culture claims that you cannot end your addiction without treatment or 12-step meetings, but the facts show that the higher percentage of people end there dependence without ever getting this kind of “ help.” Moreover, in raw numbers, most people stop without treatment.

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

Additionally, management of money and life skills should be addressed in conjunction with fair drug abuse, as issues gradually erupt the addicted female begins to address their issues and gradually prepares for them systematically as she begins to transition to independence he in her communal environment the critical component of treatment includes the psychosocial evaluation, treatment planning, individual and group counseling, psychoeducation and interactive group therapy. If all of these are used in conjunction with cognitive behavioral and other therapeutic approaches to treatment inclusive of 12-step concepts. Reference If these board concepts are addressed thoroughly in treatment the chemically addicted female can develop a solid foundation in which to learn to address and cold with her many issues. Not only has the responsibility been placed on the treatment environment, communal environment, but also much of the responsibility has been placed on the individual. This becomes essentially a valuable tool then the addicted woman can learn to set responsibility for herself give back to her community while building skills and self-esteem that help her gradually improve her own life. Reference

One has created a teaching brochure to help identify three concepts, which may lead and assist in caring for the substance abuse patient. The concepts will help providers to be empathetic, trustworthy, and intelligent to the patient’s backgrounds and beliefs. The brochure speaks of the concepts and reasons it will aid in the patient success in recovery. If these patients are seen as a lost cause and providers do not listen or rectify the problem the population of the substance abuser will grow and increase the death rate and increase dangers to others as well. Substance abuse does not only endanger the patient but the people around him or her. For example, a person who is drinking and driving can hit a pedestrian walking and cause fatal danger to that person.

Twelve step programs are commonly used in drug and alcohol treatment. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous both utilize the twelve steps, along with many other treatment centers. The twelve steps are used as a tool to stay sober and overcome addictions to substance abuse. The first step involves admitting one is powerless over the drug. It also involves admitting that due to the drug, one is no longer in control of his or her life. The second step is coming to the belief that there is a greater power that can restore one to sanity. The greater power can be anything from God to a higher power such as nature. The third step is making the decision to turn one’s will and life over to the higher power. This is when an individual fully commits oneself to the belief in something greater than him or her self. The fourth step is a moral inventory of oneself. Many individuals make a list of all the wrongs he or she has done while in the fourth step. (Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, 1981)

Relapse is highly prevalent following treatment for substance abuse, highlighting the need for more effective aftercare interventions. MBRP has the opportunity to improve treatment outcomes (Bowen, S., (2014). Roos et al., (2017) proposed an inverse relationship between treatment outcomes and the severity of Substance Use Disorder (SUD), with symptom severity effecting how much the individual benefited from MBRP treatment. Kelly, J. F., (2013) wrote that TAU, in this case 12-step participation before and after treatment, was able to build resistance to relapse among adults and adolescents. Research into treatment outcomes is essential when time and resources are limited. Information regarding treatment outcomes is clouded

The program that was evaluated is the Residential Treatment Program for women. The goal of the program is to provide comprehensive treatment services for alcoholism, drug addiction and co-occurring disorders. This program was chosen due to it gender specific treatment for alcohol and drugs exhibited by Serenity Recovery Center. Clients are admitted to treatment voluntary or court mandated and the goal is to assess the success of the residential program for relapse prevention. The goal of the program is to helping people with alcohol, drug addiction, and co-occurring disorders become productive citizens once again. Moreover, another goal is to assist the client with reducing anxiety level upon discharge from the facility.

Alcoholism is a growing problem in the United States. It can, and oftentimes does, result in illnesses and deaths. “Alcohol is the world’s third largest risk factor for disease and contributes to 4 [percent] of the global burden of disease” (Marshall, 2014). In relation to alcoholism, specifically adolescent alcoholism is a growing concern in the United States. The age at which young people are starting to experiment with alcohol is younger than ever. Dr. Don Macdonald explains that this may most likely be due to the fact that it is legal for the majority of the population. Therefore, adolescents are able to access and get a hold of alcohol more easily than they can other drugs – such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, etc.

Reported heroin use in the United States is rising. Recent data suggest that almost 700,000 Americans consumed heroin last year, which represents an almost 40% increase from 2007 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association, 2014; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association, 2008). An overwhelming increase in the dependence on prescription opioid analgesics over the last two decades combined with a supply heavy market of high quality-low cost heroin imported from South America may be concurrent factors driving this trend (Cicero, Ellis, Surratt, & Kurtz, 2014; Mars, Bourgois, Karandinos, Montero & Ciccarone, 2014; Lankaneau et al., 2011).

In the substance abuse field of social work, social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of their client. They need to value their clients as unique individuals and believe there’s room for growth and contribution. Mary Richmond, an early social work pioneer, influenced the practice of the social work profession within the substance and abuse field. The intervention process is definitely present in practice, and Mary Richmond’s terminology is used in an interview guide designed for the assessment of clients. In today’s social work profession, substance abuse and misuse problems are found across all fields of practice.