Group Substance-Abuse Treatment

Humans tend to be social by nature. For this reason, individuals suffering from substance abuse can benefit greatly from group therapy. If you are considering entering group treatment for substance abuse or if you would like to get treatment for your loved one, here is some relevant information to help you make the right choice.

Group Model

• It is important to understand the different types group models that are frequently used in group substance-abuse treatment. Ensure the treatment you require is included in the model you select.

  Psychoeducational groups teach you about the nature of substance abuse; cognitive-behavioral therapy aims to change your thoughts and actions relating to drug abuse, enabling more positive thoughts and behavior; skills-development groups teach you the skills needed to achieve and maintain abstinence; support groups allow you to share your experiences regarding your experience with drugs; and interpersonal-process groups dig into the main issues causing addiction or the inability to recover. You can also ensure that the substance-abuse treatment group offers programs that include relapse prevention and handling the anger or inhibition that may have caused your substance abuse.

Placement Criteria

• Because recovery is a long and difficult process, when you choose a group-therapy treatment, it should be reassessed at some point. You also need to ensure that group therapy is what you need because it is not for everyone. To determine this, keep in mind that group therapy is not for individuals who do not want to participate, are incapable of keeping group agreements such as maintaining members' privacy and confidentiality, are uncontrollably impulsive, cause the therapist extreme discomfort, are seriously internally uncomfortable with being in group settings, cannot follow group procedures and are not consistent with their attendance. If you are not ready to make the commitment that group treatment requires, it's best to refrain from it.

Treatment Stages

• Once you enter a group-treatment program, you may experience uncertainty about ending your substance abuse. You may have a set mind-frame regarding your substance abuse, which makes it difficult for the group leader to penetrate. During the early stage of treatment you learn how to overcome this resistance and denial; a group setting helps with this because addicts tend to be more welcoming of information from their peers instead of from a sole therapist. During the middle stage of treatment, you may still experience remembrance of the pleasure drugs brought you, relapse can be an issue, and the leader teaches you positive developmental strategies, by demonstrating how far many have come in their battle with addiction. In the latter part of treatment, you should be structured enough to confront your deepest emotions involving any pain you have suffered in the past; at this point you learn how to overcome them and start building a healthful life.

Getting Help

• If you are considering treatment for your substance abuse, one of the best places to start is with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) facility locator. Enter your zip code to get the contact information for a treatment center near you. They can recommend the group treatment that is appropriate for you.