In this 21st-century world, we humans are facing many unprecedented challenges. We have witnessed an outbreak of Ebola in Africa, H1N1 flu (Swine Flu) in Mexico, and the Covid-19 pandemic killing millions of people worldwide. During these outbreaks, conscious efforts were made to prevent the spread of these viruses. As a result of these conscious efforts, we are seeing the positive changes around us.
However, one specific disease that has been there for eons, and unlike other diseases or viruses, more and more people are drawn to its vortex each year. Yes, we are talking about- drug addiction. Due to its rapid expansion, it is imperative to spread awareness on how one can get back their life and what therapies are used by psychologists for drug addiction.
What is Drug Addiction?
Before getting into the details of the topic, let’s first understand what drug addiction is and some of its other aspects. Drug addiction is a disease, and it is classified as a chronic brain disorder by the medical community. When you are addicted to something, especially substances, you can’t stop the urge to use it, irrespective of the harm it causes to your body. When you take drugs for the first time you feel good, and it gives you a sense of confidence that you can control it. However, over time, even without you realizing it, you have already become addicted to the substance.
How Does Drug Addiction Start?
Very often this question pops into our mind, especially if loved ones are involved. As stated above, drug addiction is a disorder that can happen to anyone and there are multiple factors that can play a part in someone becoming an addict. Some of the most common reasons for this are: –
- Stressful life experience
- Childhood trauma
- Sexual abuse
- Peer pressure
- Mental health disorders
- Social circle demands
- Lack of supervision during adolescence
- Genetics
Role of Psychologists in Drug Addiction
Let’s understand who a psychologist is and what is their role in treating drug addiction. In simple words, psychologists are mental health professionals with expertise in psychology or the science of human behavior. They use psychological evaluation, therapies, and other interventions to treat several mental health disorders and teach people healthy ways to handle challenges related to mental health.
As far as treating drug addiction is concerned, psychologists play a very important role. Their role mainly involved helping individuals understand the cause of their addiction behavior and plan out strategies to overcome their addiction. During the course of treatments, they employ multiple therapies and interventions based on the inputs they receive during the initial assessment.
Now let’s explore some of the effective therapies they use to treat drug addiction.
Types of Therapies for Drug Addiction
There are different types of therapies used by psychologists to treat drug addiction. However, the most common and effective therapies are:-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a psychotherapy approach and it is one of the widely used therapies for addiction treatment. Under this treatment, the psychologist teaches the patient to identify negative thoughts and feelings, how they influence their action, and how these actions lead to drug addiction. CBT is also used for other mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and eating disorders.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Lack of motivation is one of the byproducts of addiction and this is the area that motivational interview targets. MI tends to be a short intervention in comparison to CBT and aims to help people with addiction enhance their motivation to change and get motivated to take further treatment for addiction.
Family Therapy
Family plays too crucial role in our lives and though, not directly, they are also one of the biggest victims of drug addiction. Under family therapy, the focus is not on individuals or their behavior, instead, it focuses on relationships with the goal of bringing clarity, understanding, and closeness among family members.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a form of talk therapy that is similar to CBT where the main mode of treatment is communication. Under this treatment, your psychologist or therapist helps you understand and accept your difficulties and helps you learn how to change your life and negative behavior.
Contingency Management (CM)
CM is a type of therapy that uses rewards and incentives to change behaviors or actions. The therapy is based on the idea that people will change or repeat a behaviors that are rewarding. The therapy can be used as a standalone treatment or can be combined with other forms of treatment.
Conclusion
Drug addiction is a serious mental health condition and has severely impacted many individuals and their families. However, with right interventions at the right time can help individuals overcome the impacts of addiction, and psychologists for drug addiction play a vital role in helping them achieve these goals. If you or someone you know grappling with problems of drug addiction then do not wait any further and consult a psychologist or mental health provider for a brighter tomorrow.
Hi, I’m the Founder and Developer of Paramedics World, a blog truly devoted to Paramedics. I am a Medical Lab Tech, a Web Developer and Bibliophiliac. My greatest hobby is to teach and motivate other peoples to do whatever they wanna do in life.
drug abuse is a serious problem all over the world. Spreading knowledge by this article is a really good initiative.