Drug Abuse Treatment and Harm Reduction

Mental Health Resources, PLLC

Attempts to reduce or prevent drug abuse in the United States have traditionally relied on anti-drug “education,” otherwise known as the “just say no” model. Over time, however, evidence has shown that promoting abstinence from drugs by emphasizing the negative nature of substance abuse has little to no effect on reducing rates of drug or alcohol abuse. Furthermore, these types of programs send contradictory messages regarding drug and alcohol use. When people are taught that using these substances causes negative effects, but do not immediately experience these effects themselves, they may reject the information they have been taught. In addition, it is generally seen as socially acceptable for adults to consume alcohol, at least occasionally, which seems to disprove the claim that alcohol is inherently “bad”. Finally, this model does not offer any practical strategies to people who have already begun to use drugs or alcohol and seek ways to cut back on or eliminate substance use.

Many contemporary treatment and prevention programs are based on the principles of harm reduction, as more traditional approaches have proven ineffective. One of the most common strategies which falls under the harm reduction model is social norms marketing, which is intended to address misconceptions about alcohol use among college students by providing accurate, practical information. This model is predicated on evidence which shows that students tend to overestimate how much their peers are drinking, and that their perceptions of drinking norms are closely correlated with their own drinking behavior.

Another common harm reduction technique is intended to address expectancies through interventions which offer information regarding how a person perceives the effects of substance use. This model is similar to the stages of change strategies and the use of motivational interviewing, which empower individuals to become aware of their own substance use and track their own goals. This feedback allows those struggling with substance abuse to recognize the ways in which their expectations may be inaccurate or incomplete, thereby allowing them to more realistically perceive and address their own behavior.

Drug use is marked by a tendency towards frequent, repetitive use, which eventually leads to dependence. Signs and symptoms of dependence include cravings, symptoms of withdrawal if the drug is no longer available, and increased tolerance. Relapse is defined as beginning to use a substance again after a period of sobriety. It is a central part of the addiction cycle. In order for treatment to be successful, relapse should be perceived as an opportunity for growth, rather than a failure, and can be used as part of a treatment program to encourage sobriety.

Because our substance abuse treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our dual diagnosis treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the alcohol abuse treatment and drug abuse treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a substance abuse treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Source : www.alcoholismdrugabuse.com