b. Family therapy: Family therapy involves all family members in the treatment process. This is because drug problems are thought to be related to dysfunctional family relationships and interactions. Family therapies often involve other people in the person’s social network, such as teachers and friends, who may affect the person’s drug use. The goals of family therapies are to improve family communication, provide education about drugs and their consequences, enhance problem solving, identify parental substance abuse problems, and improve family relationships.
c. Rational emotive therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy: These therapies aim to challenge and change the irrational and negative thoughts (cognitions) that are hypothesized to be responsible for drug taking and to change and reduce drug taking behaviours. You can read more about this type of therapy in the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy fact sheet.
d. Skills training: This approach is based on the belief that substance dependence represents a means of coping with difficult issues and stress. The training of skills is thought to provide more functional and healthier options for coping with stress. A variety of life skills are developed, including social skills, assertiveness, drug refusal skills, problem solving skills, relaxation, and managing crises. Training involves presenting the rationale for learning the skills, modeling, practicing, and feedback.
e. Relapse prevention: Relapse prevention involves the development of strategies to help maintain drug abstinence. Various techniques are used to prevent “relapse” or the re-initiation of drug use. These techniques include the identification of high-risk situations for relapse, instruction and rehearsal of strategies for coping with those situations, self-monitoring, strategies for recognising and coping with cravings and thoughts about the drug, planning for emergencies, and coping with lapses and relapses. Training involves rehearsing skills, role-playing, and homework tasks.
7. Pharmacotherapy: Pharmacotherapy, which refers to drug therapies, can be used in a number of ways to treat drug dependence. Drugs are sometimes used for suppressing withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings, stabilizing symptoms, and blocking the effects of specific drugs. Pharmacotherapies are most commonly used for the treatment of coexisting psychological problems, such as depression and anxiety. The types of drugs used to treat coexisting psychological issues need to be selected carefully, as they may be addictive and can affect recovery. Pharmacotherapies are often combined with counselling. Combining drug therapies with counselling has been found to improve a broader range of problems, increase adherence to treatment, and overcome many of the problems of each approach (Carroll, 1996).
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.reachout.com.au/)
