Treatment Issues
Substance Abuse and AddictionAddiction, or dependence on a particular substance or activity, is one of the most complex areas of mental health. Addiction can often be difficult to treat, and there is a good deal of controversy surrounding the causes of addiction and the best approaches to treatment. Individuals who find themselves experiencing a substance abuse and or an addiction to drugs or alcohol find my services to be helpful in overcoming their substance abuse and/or addiction. In addition to my clinical psychotherapy degree and license, I am also a registered and certified California addiction specialist. What this means to my clients is that I have an additional 3 years studying chemical and behavioral dependency at the University of California at Berkeley and completed an additional 4000 hours of training while working in residential and intensive outpatient programs. This was in addition to my psychology clinical studies and training. Drug and alcohol abuse or misuse—excessive or inappropriate use of a substance—can be difficult to define, and people’s opinions, values, and beliefs vary significantly on the topic. For some, any use of an illegal drug or any use of alcohol with the primary purpose of intoxication constitutes abuse. For others, abuse is indicated by recurring, negative consequences, such as:
Substance abuse can lead to substance dependence or addiction when both the amount of substance used and the rate of use increase. People who experience drug or alcohol addiction feel unable to control the impulse to use, and they often experience withdrawal symptoms in the sudden absence of the substance. Alcoholism, for example, occurs when people become chemically dependent on alcohol, and those who are addicted may become ill if they suddenly stop drinking. People may also feel psychologically dependent on a substance and continue to use it, particularly under stressful circumstances or to alleviate other psychological problems. Some people deny or are unaware that they have a problem with addiction, and sometimes a person’s substance dependency and abuse remains hidden from loved ones. Signs of chemical dependence include:
Psychological, biological, social, and physiological factors might all play a role in whether or not a person comes to abuse drugs or alcohol. A family history of substance abuse can make a person more vulnerable to addiction, and social factors, such as peer pressure and ease of availability can increase the likelihood of a person developing a problem with drugs or alcohol. In addition, once a person begins using heavily, physiological changes often take place, and that person may then become physically dependent, requiring him or her to continually use the substance in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Alcoholism tends to run in families, although not all children of people addicted to alcohol become addicted themselves, and there is some debate among psychologists about the degree to which alcoholism is genetic. Some researchers are searching for an addiction or alcoholism gene, while others point out that simply witnessing a parent drink in response to stress increases a child’s likelihood of choosing to drink in response to stress. Studies do show that genes, such as those that have an effect on the way a person responds to alcohol, may be responsible for about half of the risk of developing alcoholism. Some of these genes increase a person's risk, while some may instead decrease the risk of a person's developing alcoholism. Research indicates that the vast majority of people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol have an underlying mental health condition or significant emotional/psychological difficulty. This is why my approach to helping people into and maintaining recovery is to uncover, and address the co-occurring disorders that are contributing to my clients self medicating by using alcohol and drugs (AODs). If anxiety or depression or low self worth is causing you to self medicate using AODs I help you to address and reduce or eliminate your co-occurring disorder. About half of all people with mental health diagnoses will face challenges with drugs or alcohol at some point in their lives, usually as a result of using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate. People who misuse drugs or alcohol often do so as a way of coping with painful experiences, memories, or events that emotionally overwhelm them. Whether they are equipped with appropriate coping strategies or not, people who misuse substances rely on the immediate gratification of drugs and alcohol as an alternative to facing the issues at hand. In the long term, however, reliance on drugs and alcohol will almost surely worsen any emotional or psychological condition. Chronic self-medication may be a sign that therapy is warranted in order to address an underlying condition or difficulty. According to Jeremy Frank, PhD, CADC, a Philadelphia addiction psychologist, "The effects and consequences on substance use on families are devastating. Over 7 million children in the United States—more than 10%—live with a parent who has problems with alcohol, according to a 2012 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report. These children and their families are at risk for other co-morbid mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, substance use issues, and addiction." A parent who has become addicted to alcohol or uses drugs is statistically more likely to abuse or neglect his or her partner and/or children, and when parents of very young children are emotionally distant due to alcohol and drug use, the attachment bond between parent and child is likely to be weak. A family affected by addiction may also experience financial difficulties, and in some circumstances, a parent may be imprisoned as a result of drug or alcohol abuse, potentially leading to long-term separation from children and often putting further strain on the family unit. Some children of adults who are addicted may have difficulties in school due to anxiety and other stressors that may be experienced as a result of their parents' addictions. They might also find themselves acting as parents to any younger siblings as well as to the parent who is addicted, which can make it more difficult for the child to have healthy relationships with appropriate boundaries, later in life. It may also be difficult for parents to address the addiction of an adult child. Parents may feel responsible for their child's addiction or may be unsure of how to best help the child. In trying to help them overcome addictive behavior, they may at times end up enabling the child instead. In programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, these parents can learn how to keep from enabling their child while still offering love. As a therapist, I can provide assistance to parents in this area and help them find the best way to bring up the subject of substance abuse and addiction with their child. It is likely that all members of a family will be affected when one member of a family experiences an addiction. Early acknowledgment and treatment of the substance abuse or addiction may have significant benefit in promoting recovery and preventing long-term negative effects, both on the health of the person who is addicted and on the bonds between family members. Currently, the U.S. is considered to be in the midst of an opioid epidemic, as the number of people using both prescription opioids (such as Oxycontin, Percocet, and Vicodin) and heroin is increasing. As these substances are more widely used, the number of deaths resulting from overdose has also increased. Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., and opioids are responsible for more than half of these deaths: In 2014, more than 28,000 people died from an opioid overdose. Opioids affect the part of the brain that controls breathing, so large doses can slow a person’s breathing to the point of fatality. When an individual uses opioids over a period of time, a tolerance can develop, resulting in the need to use larger amounts of the substance to experience the same high. However, the body may not adapt quickly enough to the slower respiratory rate, and death may result. When opioids are mixed with other substances that have sedating effects, like alcohol, they can be even more dangerous. Sometimes, individuals are unaware of what the drugs they are using contain, such as when heroin is laced with fentanyl. In these cases, people intending to take a typical dose may unknowingly use a much higher and potentially fatal amount. Because tolerance to a drug decreases after a period of abstinence, it is at this time that people have an increased risk of overdose. If a person who has not used the drug in some time resumes taking the same amount they did previously, the body may no longer be able to handle the dose, and death may result. Opioid overdose deaths rarely happen instantly, and they can often be prevented if action is taken quickly. The symptoms of opioid overdose include:
In the case of an overdose, immediate action can often prevent death. The medication Naloxone (also known as Narcan) can reverse the effects of opioid overdose. Emergency responders, such as paramedics and police officers, typically carry this medication, but as overdoses become more prevalent, Naloxone is becoming more readily available and is now sold without a prescription in many states. I specialize in addiction and recovery therefore I can help people who are abusing substances or have crossed over into addiction to set achievable and empowering short-term goals as they work with me to overcome their addiction. Once sobriety is achieved, adaptive skills can be developed as the person works to regain physical and emotional health. The therapist can then begin to explore the source or cause of the addiction with the person in treatment as the person begins to employ the new coping strategies. My clients that are being treated by me work to set long-term goals that may include rebuilding damaged relationships, accepting responsibility for actions, and releasing guilt. With therapy, a person who is abusing or has become dependent on drugs or alcohol is often more likely to overcome an addiction, by my utilizing several types of therapy. In particular, I use, dialectable behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing therapy which is a person-centered therapy that relies on the person's inspiration to change. Sometimes therapy provides a supplemental form of support for someone who is attending a self-help group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous; in fact, some therapies are specifically geared toward facilitating 12-step programs. I do provide an outpatient program for my clients if I believe it is necessary for the well being of the client. If I find a higher level of care is needed than I can provide, I work with my client and their family to find them an appropriate residential program. It is crucial to find the right residential treatment center for my client. Not all treatment centers are a good fit for clients and not all are qualified. The statistics of relapse are quite high for people that recently completed residential treatment. This is why it is crucial to immediately start therapy upon being discharged with a qualified therapist who is also an addiction specialist. I have some clients for which 12 step programs such as AA or NA is not for them. For these clients, I use 12 step outline but I have developed questions for each of the steps based on the psychological and Buddhist practice and theory. My clients work on the step work in between sessions, and bring their responses into the next session for processing. People sometimes fear seeking help for drug addiction due to concerns of legal consequences or, when the person who is addicted is a parent, fear the involvement of Child Protective Services. However, privacy and confidentiality in substance abuse treatment is mandated not only by professional ethical guidelines, and usually, state law (like all mental health treatment), but also by special federal laws. Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to a number of health conditions, including cirrhosis of the liver, heart and circulatory problems, and premature death. Long-term alcohol abuse can also cause mental health problems and brain damage. The abuse of drugs can lead to internal damage and can cause neurological issues such as memory and hearing loss and may have other neurological effects such as the increased likelihood of violence or aggression. Those who inject drugs are also at a higher risk for HIV and hepatitis and may be more likely to experience an unplanned pregnancy or contract a sexually transmitted infection. What's more, drug and alcohol use can cause an altered mood, exacerbating stress and depression as well as other symptoms of mental illnesses. Fatal overdose is possible with many commonly abused drugs; in fact, pharmaceuticals such as opioid analgesics are the most common cause of drug overdose deaths. Marijuana is often considered to be an exception, as death from overdose is very unlikely. However, misuse or overuse of marijuana is associated with health issues such as diminished lung capacity, memory problems, and mood and cognitive impairment. It can be difficult to stop using a chemical substance, and it can also be dangerous. Chronic users of alcohol and prescription drugs are typically encouraged not to stop abruptly without medical assistance. Quitting use of a substance may lead to withdrawal effects such as physical sickness, temporary personality changes, loss of appetite, insomnia, nausea, mood swings, and other disturbances. Opiate withdrawal, for example, can be particularly debilitating, but it is typically not fatal. Medications may be used to help avoid potential withdrawal complications, but when a person’s dependence on drugs or alcohol is so severe that withdrawal symptoms may be life-threatening, an inpatient detoxification program in a hospital or treatment facility is often necessary to stabilize the person. If you or someone you know suffers from substance abuse or addiction, please contact me at 415-454-8931 or [email protected] |
If you like what you have read, and you think I could help, please call or email me for a free consultation at 415-454-8931 or [email protected] |