There are different ways of dealing with addiction disorder, proposing different forms of action depending on the characteristics of the individual or the phase of intervention.
It is essential to provide a good intervention to addicted patients, since this condition can lead to other more serious physical and psychological disorders. There are 4 main phases of intervention in patients with some type of addiction: detoxification, which consists of stopping consuming the drug or engaging in the addictive behavior; dishabituation, reduction of bad habits; rehabilitation, training new or existing skills and social reintegration.
In this article We will talk about the different ways to intervene with patients with addictions and how clinics work to treat these disorders
The addiction treatment clinic is a center where individuals with drug addiction problems come with the aim of detoxifying and maintaining abstinence, that is, non-consumption The patient can remain internally, day and night, in the center for a limited and determined period, to ensure that he does not have contact with any type of substance and remains without consuming or can be treated without the need for admission.
Likewise, the patient will be able to receive personalized attention from professionals from different fields, since multidisciplinary work is carried out to ensure the well-being of the subject. In this way, the intervention that the individual receives is very complete, focusing not only on physical and psychological health, but also assessing other variables that can facilitate the social reintegration of the subject, such as the level of training and preparation for the labor sphere.
The adictions
Addiction is understood as a chronic disorder that tends to persist if no intervention is performed That is, the addiction does not disappear on its own and we must act and apply treatment if we want to end it. The serious consequences that substance use can entail make it even more essential to treat the condition if we want to prevent more serious disorders.
These disorders can be both physical and psychological. The first group would be the case of heart, lung or cancer pathologies, as well as an increased risk of contagion of diseases transmitted through blood contact, by sharing needles, such as HIV or hepatitis C; Regarding psychological alterations, it has been observed a greater relationship between mood disorder such as depression, anxiety disorder or psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia
We must keep in mind that currently there are also other types of addictions apart from drug addictions, such as addiction to gambling, new technologies, shopping, addictions that are currently known as behavioral.
Operation of clinics to treat addictions
There will be different ways of intervening in subjects with addiction, through more or less intensive treatment, requiring or not requiring admission of the patient. We will select the best way to intervene according to the characteristics of the individual, or what preferences they have.
Regardless of the method chosen, the treatment aimed at overcoming addiction is mainly divided into four phases.
1. Detox
The first phase of treating addictions is to stop using the drug, this process is called detoxification. The action must be total, that is, the subject has to completely stop consuming the substance or stop engaging in the addictive behavior, for example, stop playing. In this phase it will be important to provide intense monitoring and support to the patient, through the intervention of a specialized doctor in addiction treatment.
It is also common to complement the therapy with pharmacological intervention that helps to reduce and better endure: the withdrawal syndrome, with the administration of benzodiazepines, which are a type of anxiolytics or anticonvulsants; Craving, which refers to the feeling of needing the drug, can be treated with naltrexone, used especially in opiate addiction, or serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which is a type of antidepressant.
2. Dishabituation
Once the abandonment phase of the addictive behavior has been overcome, it is necessary to intervene with the patient to eliminate bad habits, bad customs that led you to consume Change the routines linked to drug consumption or addictive behavior in order to establish better, healthier lifestyle habits away from the environments that make it easier for the subject to satisfy the addiction.
3. Rehabituation
Bad habits and bad behaviors reduced, It is important to train with the subject skills that he already possessed but has lost and other new ones that allow him to achieve better integration You can also work on ways to deal with states that the subject may feel with high probability, such as anxiety about using, lack of impulse control, social, communication, assertive and problem-solving skills.
Both individual and group sessions can be carried out to facilitate relationships with other subjects.
4. Reintegration
The final objective of any treatment focused on reducing addiction is ensure that the subject reintegrates into society and can live functionally In this way, we will analyze and evaluate the subject’s environment, his friends, his family… In order to intervene and improve any type of alteration or misconduct that is observed.
Once the detoxification treatment has been completed, the patient must continue to be linked to the clinic, from where they will be monitored and supported whenever they need it. In this phase it is also important to treat the fears and concerns that may arise in the subject regarding the new life that is proposed to them without the drug or addictive behavior.
You may be interested: “The 10 benefits of going to psychological therapy”
Modes of intervention
As we have seen, there are different areas to treat, making it necessary to apply different types of intervention. We will see how they can be more or less intensive, involve other subjects or not, focus specifically on addiction or also introduce other effects.
1. Outpatient intervention
Outpatient treatment allows intervention without the need to admit the patient to a center ; In this way it is less intensive, but it still allows the application of therapy and maintaining control of the patient.
This is a good option for subjects who are in the initial stages of addiction, subjects with high willpower and good self-control or for individuals who have left detoxification centers and require subsequent follow-up. We see how it can function as a step before or after entry.
2. Intervention on admission
As we already mentioned, this is the most intensive mode of intervention, which consists of completely separating the subject from their environment and thus reducing all risk of consumption. A scheduled and multidisciplinary treatment will be carried out with the purpose of detoxifying the patient
In this case, the subject’s entire life is altered, since he must leave it completely for a time to live day and night in the center, but with much more complete care, being able to receive support at all times and surrounded by a safe environment, with all the necessary material and professionals at your disposal.
3. Individual intervention
The intervention carried out individually with the patient will be fundamental and very important, since It is the subject himself who must take responsibility for facing the situation and leaving the addiction
Different areas will be worked on using different techniques such as: behavioral, linked to the modification of drug-related behaviors and carrying out pleasurable activities without the need for the addictive substance or behavior; cognitive, where maladaptive and irrational beliefs linked to drugs, as well as possible fears, will be intervened; and pharmacological, we have already seen that the use of medications is helpful especially during the early phases.
4. Group intervention
The group intervention, with other subjects who are or have gone through similar situations, It is a good treatment option to carry out in a complementary way to individual therapy Thus, the patient will be able to feel supported, see that they are not the only one with this problem and will be able to share how they feel, as well as advice that has been useful to them.
Group therapy also allows you to work on social and communication skills, see how the subject responds to other individuals, thus facilitating the transition to social reintegration.
5. Family and couple intervention
A factor to take into account when we carry out the intervention in subjects with some type of addiction is the social environment, both family and friends In this way, it will be important to work on the problems that may exist in the patient’s different social relationships, to reduce the risk of a possible relapse.
We will also try to involve those closest to them in the rehabilitation so that they cooperate and help in the individual’s recovery. It is important to inform them of the different phases and steps to follow, especially the people who live with the patient. Likewise, when the subject breaks with the environment linked to addiction, it is also necessary to distance himself from subjects who are bad influences, subjects who continue to carry out addictive behavior.
6. Dual intervention
It is common to observe that patients with addictions also show other types of mental disorders, the most common being personality disorders, mood disorders and psychotic disorders. In these circumstances we must intervene in both effects. One of the therapies that has been shown to be most effective is integrated, which consists of combining both treatments in a unified program.
