Drug addiction is a treatable
disorder. Through treatment that is tailored to individual needs, patients can
learn to control their condition and live normal, productive lives. Like people
with diabetes or heart disease, people in treatment for drug addiction learn
behavioral changes and often take medications as part of their treatment
regimen.
Behavioral therapies can
include counseling, psychotherapy, support groups, or family therapy. Treatment
medications offer help in suppressing the withdrawal syndrome and drug craving
and in blocking the effects of drugs. In addition, studies show that treatment
for heroin addiction using methadone at an adequate dosage level combined with
behavioral therapy reduces death rates and many health problems associated with
heroin abuse.
In general,
the more treatment given, the better the results. Many
patients require other services as well, such as medical and mental health
services and HIV prevention services. Patients who stay in treatment longer
than 3 months usually have better outcomes than those who stay less time.
Patients, who go through medically assisted withdrawal to minimize discomfort
but do not receive any further treatment, perform about the same in terms of
their drug use as those who were never treated. Over the last 25 years, studies
have shown that treatment works to reduce drug intake and crimes committed by
drug-dependent people. Researchers also have found that drug abusers who have
been through treatment are more likely to have jobs.
The ultimate goal of all drug
abuse treatment is to enable the patient to achieve lasting abstinence, but the
immediate goals are to reduce drug use, improve the patient’s ability to
function, and minimize the medical and social complications of drug abuse.
There are several types of
drug abuse treatment programs. Short-term methods last less than 6 months and
include residential therapy, medication therapy, and drug-free outpatient
therapy. Longer term treatment may include, for example, methadone maintenance
outpatient treatment for opiate addicts and residential therapeutic community
treatment.
WHAT IS A SOCIAL MODEL
PROGRAM?
Social model programs have
these traits or characteristics:
1. THE BASIS
OF AUTHORITY IS EXPERIENCE-BASED KNOWLEDGE; the program emphasizes
experience-based learning as the way to recovery..THE BASIS OF AUTHORITY IS EXPERIENCE-BASED KNOWLEDGE; the
program
emphasizes experience-based learning as the way to recovery.
The best way to really “learn” how
to recover from alcoholism is by going through the Recovery
process. This
process of learning a skill or acquiring a body of knowledge.
In Alcoholics
Anonymous and in social model recovery programs, alcoholics learn to recover
from alcoholism on a by doing it. He is guided
and aided in this process by observing and inter-Acting with
2. THE PRIMARY THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP IS
BETWEEN THE PERSON AND THE PROGRAM,
rather than between the person and the individual therapist.
In social
model programs, the individual’s primary relationship is with the group as a
Whole. A recovering alcoholic is
encouraged to discuss problems with any member of the staff, as well as with
other program participants and volunteers.
3. EVERYONE BOTH
GIVES AND RECIEVES HELP. Staff
of social model alcoholism programs frequently says that they are there as much
for the support of their own sobriety
as to help others. That is, they are
working in a program because they receive help and strength in their own lives
from their work. This same principle is
true for volunteers in social model programs.
Conversely,
even the newest resident in a social model recovery home is expected to make
some contribution toward program operation.
In the beginning, this contribution May be simply helping out the
kitchen or with routine housework. As
the new resident Proceeds with his recovery, he is expected to take more
responsibility for program Operation.
Towards the end of his residency he may be involved with facilitating
group Discussions, providing orientation to new residents, and working on
alcohol- related Issues in the surrounding community.
4. THE BASIC
PRINCIPLES AND DYNAMICS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS CREATE THE FUNDAMENTAL
FRAMEWORK for social model programs.
AA values such as honesty, tolerance, willingness to try, and the
emphasis on helping other alcoholics form the fundamental basis for social
model program operation.