What is Substance Use Disorder?

It can be very challenging for an individual to seek help for drug addiction. That is why various treatment programs cater to specific recovery goals and needs. Detoxification is the first step in a treatment program that eliminates drugs and alcohol from the body. Then, there are inpatient and outpatient treatment programs.
Inpatient treatment is more intensive, requiring patients to stay in a treatment facility under the supervision of medical/psychological professionals and be provided with treatment.
Outpatient treatment varies in intensity depending on the patient’s needs. The patient does not have to live in a facility. They can receive therapy while staying at home.

A substance abuse counselor is trained to evaluate and alleviate the severity of addiction, along with recommended treatments and recovery plans, collaborating with patients to create specific recovery goals, and helping in the development of skills that can help patients in the long run. Substance abuse counselors also include families of patients in the recovery plan, helping them understand addiction and its impact on their loved ones and how they can help and take care of them. Counselor needs to form a relationship with their clients based on mutual respect and trust, as most patients are resistant to treatment, having been referred to therapy against their will. They are also very vulnerable, feeling ashamed and guilty, as there is still a stigma around addiction. Therefore, a substance abuse counselor should display empathy by understanding the triggering factors behind their clients’ addiction and work together with them in a collaborative manner through the recovery process.

Several therapies are used, along with medications, to change dysfunctional and addictive thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. Some of these are:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This form of therapy can be very effective in treating addiction, as it helps in identifying dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate addiction. It helps individuals to develop healthy coping skills to prevent relapse.

• Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET): A short-term therapy program that helps clients seek help and change addictive patterns of behavior by becoming internally motivated. However, it does not work as effectively on people who use multiple drugs.

• Contingency Management (CM): This form of therapy uses positive reinforcement (rewards and incentives) to change addictive behaviors. Although it was found to be effective during treatment, mixed evidence was found on its effectiveness post-treatment. However, research suggests it can be effective long term if it’s paired with other forms of therapy such as CBT.

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): This treatment technique examines rapid eye movement while patients talk about traumatic memories. It works on reducing the emotional distress of those memories. In patients with substance use disorder, it can help with feelings of depression, cravings, and urges, and also improve memory.

• Family Counseling: This form of therapy can help the family of the patient understand addiction and its causes. Furthermore, it can benefit both patient and his/her relatives as family counseling helps process unhealthy and codependent relationships, lack of boundaries, and unsupportive family environments, that can exacerbate addiction.

Substance Use Disorder, or addiction, is a chronic, long-term condition that is often misunderstood and stigmatized in our society. It is an umbrella term that covers excessive codependency and misuse of various substances. However, there has been more awareness and empathy for this isolating disease in these past few years along with various forms of therapeutic interventions that help individuals recover from addictive patterns of behavior and lead a healthy life.