Service Approaches in Substance Abuse Treatment

Substance abuse treatment is a fascinating and growing field for the behavioral health practitioner, with numerous approaches and interventions. A service approach refers to the way in which treatment is delivered to a particular patient, or group of patients. While it is important to realize that not every approach works for every patient, therapies can often be used in conjunction with one another for a more comprehensive problem-solving process. Also, many behavioral health practitioners come from families with substance abuse issues: the approaches they learn during training may help shed some light on how to assist their loved ones who have an addiction.

12 Step Groups

• 12 step groups are perhaps one of the most well-known service approaches to substance abuse treatment. This intervention relies heavily on patient-regulated groups that meet regularly to discuss personal experiences of addiction. There is no separate counselor or authority figure present to supervise the group, although there is facilitator whose job it is to guide the meetings. It is understood, however, that this facilitator is also a substance abuser whose presence at the meetings is an important part of his own treatment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• Cognitive behavioral therapy s another approach that has gained popularity. Here, the counseling can be done either in groups or one-on-one, although the latter type is more frequently employed. With this therapy, patients are encouraged to examine the ways in which their thought patterns (cognition) affect their actions (behavior). They then come up with new, healthier thought to replace dysfunctional ones. Thus, the new thought lead to new behaviors that do not focus on substance abuse.

Family Counseling

• To the extent that substance abuse does not happen in a vacuum, family counseling can be a very helpful service approach to treatment. In this approach, the entire family, not just the substance abuser, goes into therapy. Here, a counselor helps them identify dysfunctional ways of coping and relating to one another that may actually serve to keep the abuser in an addiction pattern. Often, to achieve permanent, substance-free change, the entire family system must undergo a radical transformation.

Relapse Prevention

• Finally, relapse prevention is a crucial component of any substance abuse treatment approach. Since the possibility of a relapse is something that will follow addicts for the rest of their lives, identifying triggers (people, places, and things that prompt them to abuse their substance of choice) as well as alternate coping mechanisms is key. Often, family members must become involved in this approach, since their enabling behaviors may also lead to a relapse.