DE ADDICTION

De addiction

Addiction is a term defined a chronic relapsing disorder for people abusing substances like Smoking, alcohol, rave drugs, medical drugs. It is a tendency to make one feel euphoric ( well being) , there are several drugs which are available in the market which are used for abuse.
Several routes of drug transmission - Drinking, smoking, injecting, pills.
However the nature of the drug and its toxicity will be responsible for the morbidity or lethality of the person.

What happens to a drug abuser ?
The main complication of drug abusers is overdose and intoxication producing lethality, and behavioral problems both domestic and social leading to legal issues and family disruption.

How does he become a Drug abuser ?
There are several factors which are responsible for a person to become an drug addict, and psychiatrists now believe that it is mainly due to the congenital behavioral problem which leads to negative peer group and initializing the intake of drugs.

In India, Alcohol addiction is common, and de addiction has been very successful than abuse of other substances.

It becomes a therapy when...
A Professional team comprising of Psychiatrist, Medical Officer, Counsellor, Social Workers and Yoga Therapist involve in the treatment of addiction.
The person undergoes different stages of treatment and counselling, This process not only involves the individual but also the family members whose participation is very important in the prevention of relapse.

The Process…Admission
Treatment - Detoxification by the use of Antabuse Therapy and Aversion Therapy.
Therapeutic Interventions
Individual Counselling
Group Counselling
Family Counselling
Psycho Education
Follow-up
Outreach Programmes
Research

Admissions-The procedure…
The patient is first admitted as an in-patient.
Various investigations are done assess the physical and psychological condition of the patient.
A detailed case history is taken on the alcohol consumption or the form of drug addiction in order to know about the factors for the onset of the illness and the problems there after.

Treatment
The treatment is focused on enabling the patient from abstaining from drugs of any form and under any conditions for the rest of their life.
This is done by way of initially detoxifying the patient.

Detoxification
It is the medical management process used for the removal of toxic substances from the body by infusion and pharmocotherapy where the process takes about 3 days.

Antabuse Therapy
This treatment method is used predominately for those who are dependent on alcohol.
Alcohol is given to the patient for consumption along with the medication known as antabuse.
On consumption, the patient experiences very unpleasant side effects.
The negative side effects experienced by patient lead them to loose the liking towards alcohol that earlier used to bring him pleasure.

Aversion Therapy
Yet another method used as a Pre-final phase of treatment where the patient is allowed to consume his favorite brand of alcohol while on antabuse medications.
Here he experiences noxious reactions and severe adverse effects as a result of alcohol consumption.
This is used to bring awareness to the patient, that if he consumes alcohol again it would lead to the undesirable reactions. This process is done under close medical supervision.

Therapeutic Interventions

Individual Counselling
Counselling is a scientific process of assistance extended by an expert, to the individual. The process aims at enabling the individual to learn and pursue more realistic and satisfying solutions to his problems and difficulties.

The process resolves primarily around the relationship between the counselor and the client. The individual is more to understand all the information that has been accumulated about himself in the context of his work. The counsellor helps him to develop the ability to take wise, independent and responsible decisions. The counseling activities are systematically planned.
It is carried on over a period of time. The length of which is dependent upon the needs of the client. Each client is given minimum of 3-4 sessions, which lasts for about 30-60 minutes.
Issues relating to personal or problems such as extra marital affairs, legal issues, marital separation are dealt.

Group Counselling
A homogeneous group of individuals are brought in for a group discussion. The Group of Participants can consist of persons who are dependent or addicted to chemical substances, alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, etc. The number of participants in a group is 5 - 10 Members with a counselor. Each client is taken to participate in two sessions where the session runs in to time of about 30- 60 minutes per session. These sessions facilitate face-to-face
interaction. Issues Related to problems that arise due to addition, symptoms of addiction, breakdown of values and relapse and other relevant issues are discussed. As their problems are similar in nature, it helps them to share their experiences with one another and through this process it helps them to learn skills like coping, "Decision Making" and "Problem Solving".


Family Counselling
The family members of the chemically dependent person are a set of people who are hurt and confused. They are victims synergizing desperately to solve their problems. This family counseling session help the family members to get an information and insight regarding the problem and coping mechanisms. Basic issues such as the treatment programme, medications to
be given, relapse and recovery are discussed in the session. A minimum of 3-4 sessions are held for each member with a time duration of 30 - 60 minutes a session

Psycho Education
A programme that target the family members as well as the client to re-educate them on the basic issues such as disease concept, addiction related damages, relapse, overcoming personality defects, methods to stay sober, and the role of family members in handling the recovered addicts etc.
Three educative sessions for each individual and four educative sessions for the family members are given with the time duration of 30-60 minutes.

Follow up
The patients are reviewed periodically. Their medication aspects are seen to and counseling sessions are also held during the follow-ups
The outcome of the various therapeutic interventions given depends largely on the effectiveness of follow-up.
Efforts to make the patient re-integrate into the community and to attain the status of being a holistic and recovered person are the ultimate aim of the programme.

Aim of This Therapy…To enable persons dependent on alcohol and drugs, to recover and lead a sober life, involving a team of professionals in the treatment and rehabilitation.
To create an awareness regarding the negative outcome of addiction, the positive outcome of treatment and rehabilitation and about the access to professional help...

The Advantages of this Therapy

* Helps to abstain from drugs
* Treatment of the underlying psychiatric disorder or behavioral problem
* Counseling helps in building high moral and understand the responsibilities
* Family income increases due to null expenditure on alcohol
* Personality cognitive skills develop
* Regain the lost dignity and respect
* Acquire the family and social responsibilities.
* Engage in healthy living.