Counselling Methods for Addictions PDF

Counselling methods for addictions  Addiction ? Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.† It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain—they change its s...

Counselling methods for addictions  Addiction ? Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.† It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain—they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long-lasting, and can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who abuse drugs.  What are psychoactive drugs? “…Any chemical substance which, when taken into the body, alters its function physically and/ or psychologically....” World Health Organization, 1989 “…Any substance people consider to be a drug, with the understanding that this will change from culture to culture and from time to time.” Krivanek, 1982 Psychoactive drugs interact with the central nervous system (CNS) affecting: ►Mental processes and behaviour ►Perceptions of reality ►Level of alertness, response time and perception of the world Why do people initiate drug use? Drug use initiation often starts through: There is a believe that drug use is motivated (at least initially) by the pursuit of pleasure. However, ►Peer pressure according to scientific evidence, there ►Personality disorder are factors such as exposure to abuse, ►Comorbid psychiatric neglect, violence, etc., especially in disorder childhood, leading to vulnerabilities to ►Experimental use initiate drug use.  What is drug addiction? Drug addiction is a complex illness characterized by compulsive and at times, uncontrollable drug craving, seeking, and use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences. (NIDA, 1999) Substance dependence is not a failure of will or of strength of character but a medical disorder that could affect any human being. Dependence is a chronic and relapsing disorder, often co-occurring with other physical and mental conditions." (WHO, 2004)  Important terminology ►Psychological craving ►Tolerance ►Withdrawal symptoms Craving refers to the desire or urge to re-experience the effect of a previously experienced psychoactive substance Craving can also be described as the conscious/subjective experience of the following: ►Feelings of urge ►Physical/physiological sensations (heart rate increase, perspiration, etc.) ►Actual temptation ►Uncontrollable thoughts Tolerance is a state in which a person no longer gets the expected responses from a drug as it was experienced before. A higher dose is now required to achieve the same effect.  The following symptoms may occur when drug use is reduced or discontinued: Withdrawal symptoms ►chills Physiological reactions that occur ►Cramps when after a period of using a drug ►Emotional problems this habit is discontinued. The ►Cognitive and attention deficits reaction could be mild e.g., tobacco to ►Hallucinations life threatening e.g., alcohol. ►Convulsions ►Death https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBC7i-vHWsU Addiction is a brain disease that is chronic and relapsing in nature What is drug addiction counseling? An intervention which gives the client an opportunity to explore his or her drug use and consequences confidentially, and to discuss available treatment options most appropriate to his/her circumstances Why is drug addiction counseling needed? - to encourage and motivate clients to reduce their drug use-related risks - to support clients in seeking care and support - drug users who wish to stop using drugs often benefit from counseling in combination with treatment options ❑ Addiction to drugs can be difficult to overcome for many individuals. ❑ Drug addiction counseling provides guidance on strategies to assist clients to reduce risks associated with using drugs and, if desired, to abstain from drug use. Counseling can be effective in reducing ❑ Both drug use and the harm associated with drug use. Drug addiction counseling enables ❑ Clients to link the problems they may have to their drug use, and to identify tangible solutions. ❑ Many of the skills and techniques that will be taught in this course are based on cognitive ❑ Behavioral frameworks that have been shown to be effective in assisting drug users to stop using drugs. ❑ Drug addiction counseling is an intervention that gives the client an opportunity to explore his or her drug use confidentially and to discuss available treatment that are most appropriate to his/her circumstances. ❑ Drug addiction counseling encourages and motivates clients to reduce their drug use-related risks and supports them to seek care and support. ❑ Communication plays an important role in counseling in general, and in drug addiction counseling in particular. ❑ Counselors should be empathetic, not sympathetic.