Techniques For Creating Change

"Drug and Alcohol Abuse"

What is Drug and Alcohol Abuse?

Drug and Alcohol Abuse is the abuse of any chemical/s that is used to ease any emotional or psychological pain the person suffers from. It affects the mind and the mood in the person so that he or she may disassociate or "numb" this pain by inducing a feeling of some type of "euphoria", to be able to cope. It is a disease that can affect persons of ages ranging from 8 years old, well into the mid years and elderly stages. This disease is progressive, therefore the person who is abusing the chemical, now becomes dependent on it to continue the cycle of "euphoric state" from the pain. This now traps the person into addiction. Now an addict, the chemical dependency becomes the only thing the person seeks, thereby shutting out all the other aspects of daily living such as jobs, family, friends and general goals or aspirations. It becomes a breakdown of the person's life, and affects everything around him or her.

Chemical Abuse and its effects

Some of the chemicals that addicts abuse are but not limited to Heroin, Cocaine, Marijuana, Alcohol, Amphetamines and Methadone. Addicts can also abuse any and all prescription drugs including anti-depressants, mood-stabilizers, and cough medicine, muscle relaxers and pain medication. If the addict cannot get a hold of these drugs, they may resort to abusing other substances to substitute the craving such as household cleaners, aerosol chemicals, etc.

To give an example of the dangers of substance abuse, we will consider Heroin, which is an extremely addictive drug. It primarily depresses the Central Nervous System.

Some of the other common names used to describe Heroin among addicts are "Horse, Crank, Jive, Smack, Junk, Shag or Dope." Neuroscience for Kids (2007). It initially produces a feeling of brief euphoria or a "rush", but then sets in an effect of sedation and drowsiness, nausea, reduced anxiety, reduced respiration and in extreme cases death due to overdose. Over time of abusing this drug, the addict develops an increased need for the feeling of the rush. Cravings usually set in four to six hours after their last "fix". In the case of Alcohol abuse, the physical effects slow down the motor skills and speech in the individual. They may be unable to converse appropriately, walk or move in a straight and upright manner. The individual's vision becomes compromised and unclear. He or she has poor reflex control, and this is why it is dangerous for the individual to operate any kind of machinery. The abuse affects the liver, and causes sclerosis, a deadly condition.

The History

Drugs

While there have been many drugs affecting persons on an epidemic scale today, there are a few primary drugs that seem to be predominantly used. Heroin is made from the opium poppy, a plant known as Papaver somniferum. This plant is found in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and parts of Central and South America. The juice of the plant produces Morphine. The painkiller Codeine, for example, is also extracted from opium. In 1800's, these two processes were discovered in order to assist physicians to treat soldiers during the Civil War.

Alcohol

The production of Alcohol may have started as early as in the Neolithic period (10,000 BC) Some of the other early stages reflect that beer may have been made from berries and honey (Blum et al, 1969, p. 25; Rouech6, 1960, p. 8; French, 1890, p. 3) and wine making may have originated from the Middle East. Hanson, (2006) Excessive drinking became prominent in what seemed to be prostitution houses, and was warned by the Egyptians that it could become a problem. The Greeks, Chinese and other countries

across the world, started out using Alcohol for medicinal and therapeutic services as well as recreative and social benefits due to the intoxicating effect it had on the physical body.

Over the years, beer, an alcoholic beverage made from wheat and barley became more abundant because of the fact that not only was it intoxicating, but it was also cheaper. Today, alcohol is legal for persons twenty-one years of age and older. This is still a controversy, due to the rise in Alcohol abuse. It is still one of the cheapest and easiest ways to abuse a substance.

A Technique for Creating Change

According to BC Murphy in collaboration with C. Dillon, the client alone can do homework or it can involve other people in the addict's life including family, friends, counselors and sponsors. Murphy, BC, Dillon, C. (2003) Interviewing in Action: Relationships, Process and Change. The Homework technique is used for assisting a client to prepare him or her with the tools necessary for self-growth while living with the disease of Drug and Alcohol Addiction. It entails various activities and support systems put in place to aid and enable the client to have the ability to cope and function independently without substance abuse behaviors.

This technique is implemented following the discharge of in-patient rehabilitation. Once the client is discharged, he or she will need to be able to depend on specific goals designed to put into practice. He may need to have a network of people in his immediate circle to assist with meeting these goals, to increase his chances of a more successful recovery. The client would have to construct and act on these tools to foster a dependence on healthy aspects of daily living; but more importantly, a healthy dependence.

Using the Homework technique, the addict could involve joining a gym or taking up meditation or yoga, because exercising the mind and body, are essential to the recovery process. The addict should also attend a church, mosque or some place of worship on a weekly basis because improving spiritual health is often useful to addicts. Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous are organizations to help addicts in recovery. They are structured around a philosophy of spirituality and a dependence on the addict's strengths and faith in a Higher Power. This is expressed through a Twelve-Step program. Attending NA or AA meetings are paramount to the addict. An aspect of AA or NA is the addict could receive daily feedback from other addict in recovery who are familiar with experiencing the same feelings, doubts and fears. This type of support can only strengthen the addict as well as letting them