Drugs and addictive substances have been around us since time eternal. Their treatment varies individual to individual and include commonly pharmacology (we can refer someone) all the way to talk-therapy.
What defines a substance as “class A” in one country may be perfectly legal in another. A lot about drugs is a matter of social and cultural value. However when a substance becomes addictive and patients spend more and more of their health, finances and/or social capital in pursuit of an ever-growing need, there is need for therapy.
Behavioural and family therapy for integrative therapy.
Modern practice drug and addiction therapy places the family unit of the patient at the centre. Whilst the patient will follow a specific therapeutic protocol and possible medication, his/her family therapy are an important part of the holistic intervention.
Dangerous addiction impacts a whole family unit, or a group of friends. The dangers of drug abuse, and how drugs are broadly estimated in research terms fall in three categories:
- Harm to self.
- Harm to others (family, friends, co-workers, etc.).
- Addictiveness of the drug.
This categorisation would for example place the recent oxytocin/fentanyl epidemic that ravaged the US definitely a “Class A” drug despite being legal. Vice versa this definition would probably qualify LSD or “magic mushrooms” as a mid to low danger drug. In the case of LSD accidents have been reported but serious investigation finds them extremely rare, especially when contrasted with the US “legal” opioids crisis that killed over 50’000 Americans per year and ravaged entire communities. Or the estimated 100’000 Americans per year who lose their lives due to excessive drinking (without counting falls, car crashes, risky sex, sexual assaults, miscarriages, fights and other human and social cost). It is important to keep a rational mindset when dealing with drugs. Looking at the effect in the lives of patients. No one wants to throw an intervention for Uncle Dave who drinks a glass of red every other day while cooking dinner. But someone has to talk to the family of the girl who drinks in the morning to be “able” to go through the day at work.
Symptoms & Treatments
- Personalised diagnostic: Rites and triggers, environments and contexts, enablers, self-medication, family dynamics and history (drugs and otherwise).
- Symptoms and Indications: Damage to mental health, physical health, family health due to substance abuse. Cycles and rites around addiction. Systemic relapses.
- Resources & Related: VBR (Voucher Based Reinforcement), Cognitive Therapy, Family Therapy, Group therapy, rehabilitation, Motivational enhancement, Community support.