It is not easy to overcome any type of addiction and a drug or alcohol addiction may be particularly difficult to fight. People working to overcome addictions know this better than anyone else. Working in groups may help everyone achieve a much better quality of life.
What is an addiction?
Addiction is a chronic disease of the brain that affects motivation, memory, and reward. Dysfunction in the brain may produce biological, psychological, and social manifestations. Individuals who suffer from addictions pathologically pursue reward and/or relief by using substances, they find it difficult to live without their substances of choice, and have uncontrollable cravings. They tend to have impaired behavioral control and emotional responses, diminished appreciation of significant problems, and poor interpersonal relationships.
Often, addiction involves cycles of reversion and remission and tends to be progressive. When recovery is not initiated either voluntarily or forcefully, it may result in disability or premature death.
Taken from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), this definition clearly shows that addiction affects the brain over the long term. It may create harmful behavior, as seen in the habits of people who are addicted.
It is a relapsing disease that triggers people to keep returning to the habit even after they have attempted to stop. This is one reason why group therapies tend to be effective as a holistic treatment option in the process of recovery from addiction.
While addictions start as a voluntary act of using drugs or alcohol, they become involuntary and compulsive. The alcohol or drugs affect the brain and begin a cycle that controls thinking (reward and motivation), learning, memory, and ultimately behavior.
- Prioritized Safety
- Technology-Friendly
- Relaxing Environment
- Patient’s Privacy
- Customized Treatment
Who is at risk of addiction?
Drug abuse and addiction are often known as substance or drug use disorder. Unfortunately, such disorders are very common and affect more than eight percent of U.S. residents during the course of their lives. It is possible to abuse almost any substance that can result in a euphoric (high) feeling. Everyday items such as household cleaners are among the substances that people commonly abuse.
How can drug and substance addictions be treated?
While it is not simple or easy, addictions may be treated. Addiction is a chronic disease that affects brain functions, so people cannot stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Brain functions need to be corrected and many people need long-term holistic treatment and prolonged care to stop addiction and recover control over their behaviors and lives.
One goal of addiction treatment focuses on helping clients:
- Stop using drugs and substances.
- Stay drug-free or substance-free.
- Become a productive relative, coworker, and member of society.
[two_long_buttons_cta_shortcode]
How to re-educate the brain
One major goal of drug addiction recovery is to help clients regain control of their brain functions and behavior. In order to help clients, there are several different types of treatment that depend on the substances abused. There is no one-size-fits-all solution and each person will need an individual assessment and recovery plan.
Clients with similar diagnoses may often be treated in groups using the therapeutic psychoeducation method as one of the steps in the process. The psychoeducation model uses structured instructor-led, group-specific content such as videos and lectures designed to educate and re-educate clients about substance abuse and related consequences. The groups educate clients to:
- Identify, avoid, and master the specific internal conditions and external triggers associated with substance abuse.
- Develop internal desires to seek help and discover ways to change.
- Recognize obstacles to recovery and reinforce an understanding of the path they need to follow to recovery.
- Learn about other resources that may be helpful in recovery, such as meditation, relaxation, anger management, spiritual development, and diet.
Benefits of the Psychoeducation Group Method
Many people who abuse drugs and alcohol often live in denial. One of the major benefits of psychoeducation groups is that they provide a shared platform for people to discuss problems with others who have similar challenges. The shared knowledge of a shared problem often creates trust and makes it easier for clients to plan and work towards recovery as individuals and as a group.
This group method also allows clients to deal with related personal problems such as shame, depression, and isolation, as group members support each other in times of pain and temptation. Psychoeducation groups provide creative ways that enable people to bond in a culture of recovery. To sustain group members’ ongoing recovery, they may provide peer persuasion, stabilization, and even confrontation when needed.
Psychoeducation group meetings, often conducted over the course of six to twelve months, may also increase the level of commitment people need to continue their treatment. They may help change negative behavior, such as helping people avoid others who are actively using drugs. They are also useful in helping clients’ families and friends comprehend substance abuse and treatment, teaching them about the many resources available for the recovery process. Finally, psychoeducation may provide education to clients to help them establish and maintain abstinence and give them guidance to make productive holistic choices.