Drug addiction
Drug addiction becomes a serious obstacle to leading a healthy and happy lifestyle. It is characterized by an irresistible and uncontrollable craving for drug use, which subsequently affects the brain’s functioning and impairs memory, motivation, and control over behavior (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). Patients need long and repetitive stages of rehabilitation to return to a former lifestyle. This paper will determine the role of treatment in the recovery process and analyze the best evidence-based practices.
Drug treatment is a long and exhausting process aimed at helping addicted people stop their compulsive desire for drugs. In this context, the concept of full recovery becomes the key to the approach used during rehabilitation (Mental Health Commission of Canada, n.d). The treatment methods that specialists resort to depending on the patient’s characteristics or the types of drugs used. Therapy’s role is that people can completely free themselves from their addiction and return to a healthy lifestyle. Many clinics provide drug treatment programs, including The Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto. Analyzing the severity, degree of dependence, and the environment of each patient individually, the center selects the appropriate treatment and helps overcome addiction (CAMH, n.d.). Thus, this setting was chosen for the analysis of the best evidence-based treatment practices.
Evidence-Based Treatment Practices
Evidence-based practices are divided into pharmacotherapy and behavioral therapy. Each of the methods aims to solve certain aspects of drug addiction and is used at different stages of treatment. For example, pharmacotherapy focuses on reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms, while behavioral therapy helps a person with social adaptation. Contemporary research shows that drug abuse becomes a consequence of various factors (Weekes & Calvert, 2006), which is why practices are not opposed but complement each other to ensure the patient’s long-term recovery.
One of the evidence-based pharmaceutical practices is methadone, which can prevent withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings for opioids. This practice also blocks the effect of banned opioids that is generally aimed at treating opioid addicts (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). The method is not limited to introducing the selected population and suits different groups of people. In my opinion, the availability and prevalence of this method have become a big argument in favor of its use. Methadone achieves maximum efficiency together with behavioral therapy and social services that help return to the old life faster and more effectively.
The practice of buprenorphine does not cause euphoria and sedation but reduces the likelihood of withdrawal syndrome. This method eliminates the risks of relapse and helps avoid the problem of overdose (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). Treatment with buprenorphine for detoxification or maintenance becomes an excellent choice for the selected population, supported by the availability of cabinet treatment and cost-efficiency. In my opinion, this method’s advantages are that it significantly expands the coverage of patients and assists more people in need.
Another pharmaceutical practice is naltrexone, a synthetic antagonist of opioids. Its use is explained by the theory that the repeated lack of desired effects and the apparent futility of opioid abuse will gradually reduce cravings and addiction (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). It must be taken orally daily or three times a week, most suitable for highly motivated patients. Therefore, this method will justify itself for the selected population category. I believe that this practice is good because it does not include the use of opioids. Even those patients who distrust methadone and buprenorphine, perceiving them as a “substitute” (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018), will be able to find a comfortable way of treatment for themselves.
Twelve-Step Facilitation Therapy is one of the behavioral practices used for the population in the selected setting. It is based on an approach that considers drug addiction a chronic and progressive disease with biological and psychological aspects (Galanter, 2018). During treatment, the patient becomes a group member that promotes long-term abstinence, encouraging and facilitating active involvement in twelve-stage therapy. The practical benefits for the population selected are cognitive and cultural factors since therapists will experience fewer difficulties working in groups of the same age and region (Glasner-Edwards & Rawson, 2010). In my opinion, the success of this therapy is due to constant close contact with people who have similar experiences. Regular access to a judgment-free environment makes it easier for a person to achieve and maintain long-term recovery.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is also a practice that can help the population selected. The target group is patients who have gone through a difficult personal experience in the use of drugs. Being significantly more effective than other therapies in treating PTSD (Cuijpers et al., 2020), EMDR helps to process traumatic memories. Repetitive exercises for the eyes and movements under the guidance of a therapist replace negative emotions with positive ones. For example, self-hatred is replaced by pride in the ability to overcome such a difficult period. In my opinion, since the psychological aspect of working with drug addiction is essential, the method helps to consolidate the results and reduce the risk of relapse.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, one of the most common drug addiction treatment methods, can also help the selected population. This conversational therapy method allows combatting stress and negative thoughts that can potentially provoke a relapse in the patient and lead to repeated drug use. In other words, the practice provides the patient with support and skills until the effect of the medicines becomes apparent (Ray et al., 2020). In individual treatment, the underlying causes that initially started substance abuse are analyzed. From my viewpoint, this practice is useful to remove the root of the problem. Changing beliefs and attitudes contribute to removing behavioral patterns that could cause a return to drug use.
Another behavioral method is Continuity Management (CM), which provides patients with tangible rewards for abstaining from drug use. The main goal of therapy is to consistently strengthen positive values even when a person is subject to serious internal experiences. People of the selected population will receive constant motivation to continue treatment, which may positively impact their experience. I hold favorable views regarding this method since it aims to revive positive emotions. Having passed the difficult stage of the struggle with drug addiction, the patient slowly begins to adapt to a new experience filled with pleasure and enjoyment.
One of the most common evidence-based practices is Family Behavioral Therapy (FBT), which shows positive results outside of drug addiction treatment. It aims to improve the home environment, which is why at least one person close to the patient is invited to the sessions (Plant & Holland, 2018). In the context of the population considered, therapists will help involve their families in applying behavioral strategies that can reduce the risk of repeated drug use. This will correspond to the need to create a comfortable atmosphere for the patient. In my opinion, this practice is useful primarily for returning the patient to a familiar environment. It also helps to establish relationships with loved ones, ties with whom could weaken during the exacerbation of drug addiction.
References
CAMH: The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (n.d.). CAMH.
Cuijpers, P., Veen, S. C. V., Sijbrandij, M., Yoder, W., & Cristea, I. A. (2020). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for mental health problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 49(3), 165-180.
Galanter, M. (2018). Combining medically assisted treatment and Twelve-Step programming: a perspective and review. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 44(2), 151-159.
Glasner-Edwards, S., & Rawson, R. (2010). Evidence-based practices in addiction treatment: Review and recommendations for public policy. Health policy, 97(2-3), 93-104.
Mental Health Commission of Canada (2015). Guidelines for Recovery-Oriented Practice [PDF document].
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Plant, C. P., & Holland, J. M. (2018). Family behavior therapy for alcohol and drug problems in later-life. Clinical Gerontologist, 41(5), 508-515.
Ray, L. A., Meredith, L. R., Kiluk, B. D., Walthers, J., Carroll, K. M., & Magill, M. (2020). Combined pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for adults with alcohol or substance use disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA network open, 3(6), 1-15.
Weekes, J., & Calvert, L. (2006). Evidence-based treatment: Information for the service provider. Ottawa: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.