Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Methods Available for Treating Drug Dependence

Drug dependance is caused due to the compulsive use of drugs, despite its dangerous effects a person becomes so dependent that he needs those drugs to function normally. Abruptly stopping the drug leads to withdrawal symptoms. Drug abuse can lead to drug dependence and the people who use drugs for pain relief may become dependent on it.

Treatment Methods for Drug Dependance:
There are several methods available for treating the drug dependance and those are given below:

Self Help:
It is the one of the methods of treatment in which the individual who is dependent on the drugs is responsible for treatment. Self help materials helps the individuals in understanding the behavior of drug taking, associated consequences and educates them about drugs and their effects. Books, videos, telephone and on line support are some of the self help options available. Self help groups are managed and run by people with drug issues and these are of great use.

Counseling:
There are different types of counseling techniques which differ in theories and methods, they often address common issues.

  • Motivational interviewing – Motivational interviewing helps bring a change among the individuals by motivating the individuals who have not yet made a decision to change.
  • Skills training - Substance dependence developed in an individual to cope up with difficult issues and stress. Skill training provides more functional and healthier options for coping with stress.
  • Family therapy - Family therapy involves all family members in the treatment process and this type of counseling improves family communication, provide education about drugs and their consequences, enhance problem solving, and improve family relationships.
  • Relapse prevention – This method of treatment involves development of strategies to help maintain drug abstinence and there are various techniques used to prevent relapse or re initiation of drug use.
  • Pharmacotherapy – In the pharmacotherapy number of drugs are used to treat the drug dependance and these drugs are used to suppress the withdrawal symptoms, drug cravings, stabilize symptoms, and block the effects of specific drugs.
All the above methods are very much useful in making an individual free from drug dependance.

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