Alcoholics Anonymous is an organisation dedicated to helping people recover from alcoholism. Open meetings are open to anyone, while closed meetings are only open for recovering alcoholics. Meetings are about one hour long. A major component of AA are the twelve steps as outlined in The Big Book:…
There are many different types of therapies that are available to help individuals struggling with addiction; group counseling is one of these. Many studies show that individuals may benefit from attending group therapy or group counseling. However, it is not something that everyone will benefit from. In our Jacobs (2012) text we read that, “Individuals who do not want to be or are not ready to be in a group can disrupt it or be harmed because group pressure may cause them to take some action or self-disclose before they are ready” (Jacobs, Masson, & Harvill, 2012). Yet another reason…
The sociocultural theory states that people use substance abuse because of stress and the environmental factors due to the fact that socioeconomics and unemployment are evident. Thus, they use drugs as a means to relief themselves from stress. In addition, the behavioral/cognitive viewpoint also points to the situational substance abuse as a cause that is contributing to the condition as well. Furthermore, the behavioral/cognitive viewpoint holds that substance abuse patterns are developed through operant conditioning, when the individual uses substance abuse to release tension in his or her stressful situations. Hence, this temporary release becomes a habit as the individual begins to carry expectancy as a reward and a pattern of substance abuse through motivation becomes established. In view of this, an individual begins to use substance abuse in all his or her stressful situations, and when feeling tension, regardless of the nature of his or her external circumstances.…
Substance Abuse and Mental Illness are a common problem in America. An organization, SAMHSA, promotes and implements prevention and early intervention strategies to reduce the impact of mental and substance use disorders in America’s communities. Essentially, SAMHSA focuses on the prevention aspect of substance abuse and mental illness by steering people clear of drugs and promoting monitoring of mental illness as well as early treatment. Experts attest that an optimal mix of prevention interventions is required to address substance use issues in communities, because they are among the most difficult social problems to prevent or reduce( SAMHSA, 2016). Because it is easier to prevent these issues than to try to heal them SAMHSA work on public…
I agree with the behavioral/cognitive theory, the biological theory, and the sociocultural theory. These three viewpoints share certain elements that are all important.…
I attended an Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A) meeting, I felt in love with those meeting. I attended a meeting on April 23 at 6 pm. Location 1773 Griffith Park Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. A.A membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence the may refuse none who wish to recover. Nor ought A.A. Membership to ever depend upon money or conformity. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an AA group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation. This particular AA group was mix, men, women, young people, doctors, gays and others. They were all alcoholics, seek help, have different profession.…
This is about staying sober and the many programs that are available to help people become sober. Staying sober is a choice and takes will power to maintain sobriety. The many stresses of life are the reason that most people drink on a daily basis. Some behaviors that people have that drink or use drugs are a compulsive behavior. Many programs to becoming sober are costly, in the end if sobriety can be maintained it is worth it in the end. The hardest thing about staying sober is getting sober. Going through detox can be the worst. Most counties in the State of Indiana have a drug and Alcohol program. In Jennings County however the program…
The field of substance abuse counseling is growing exponentially. With the opioid epidemic booming and synthetic drugs flooding the market, there is a dire need for counselors with education, training, and strong work ethics. But that is not why I am choosing to become a Substance Abuse Counselor, there is a little more to it. They say those that have lived it are the ones who can help others during their struggles. I am 45 years old, a mother to 3 beautiful children, one with special needs. I am also a granny to a beautiful little girl, and a wife to an amazing husband. All that has happened in the last 14 years of my life. However, the first half of my life was made up of abuse and addictions.…
The Human Service Career of Addiction Counseling has inspired me to learn all I can to help people, and has given me the opportunity to make an honest living. I was in desperate need of a behavior and attitude change about my life, for I have received the information from others in the field and made a conscious decision to help others who have a desire for change and a new way of life. Substance abuse counselors advise people who have alcoholism or other types of addiction, behavioral problems, or help the client recover from addiction by providing treatment…
There are few things in life more difficult that trying to live with an addiction to opiate-based substances. The insidious addictive nature of these drugs pull unsuspecting people in and refuses to let them go until it has destroyed their lives or they starting fighting back by asking for help. If you live in the Arizona area and are dealing with an addiction that affects you and/or a loved one, there is help available.…
Prescription drug abuse is a fast-growing, nation-wide epidemic in the United States. Although millions of Americans receive medically prescribed drugs for their illnesses, which is considered legitimate usage, abusing prescription drugs means either a) someone is taking prescription medication that were not prescribed to them or b) someone is taking prescription drugs in a manner the drug was not intended for or is taking too much of the recommended doses. Common examples of such abusive behavior include people who take prescription medication for recreational purposes or people who are under heavy emotional distress and use drugs to relieve the pain.…
Increasing abuse of prescription drugs among teens can be attributed to psychological, environmental, or behavioral conditions.Drug abuse in teens can be linked to other disorders or conditions which lead to drug abuse. Teens who abuse drugs are likely to become adults who abuse drugs. It is necessary to understand and address these underlying issues if successful prevention is to happen. First it is necessary to understand the magnitude of the problem…
Prescription drug abuse and addiction is a growing problem in our society. In 2007 an estimated seven million Americans abused prescription drugs, and almost twenty-eight thousand people died as a result of accidental drug overdose. In the United States drug overdoses are the second leading cause of unintentional deaths (CDC, 2010). Medication prescribed by physicians killed more people in that same than illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine combined (Harvard, 2011). Many members of our society do not view prescription drugs as dangerous. These medications are prescribed by a physician and purchased at a pharmacy to treat acute or chronic pain (Byrne, Lander, & Ferris, 2009).…
Almost all jobs and companies require a drug test before hiring you as an employee. So there is no reason a person requesting public assistance should not be required to pass a drug test as well. I don't mean random drug testing either. Make it a requirement to receive their benefits. Our country cannot continue to waste money and expect taxpayers to support them. Enough is enough. If we sit back and allow the public health system to run this way, we run the risk of not being able to help anyone in the future. Unfortunately there are people that do not want to help themselves or cannot help themselves. After all, this is an addiction and can be very hard to kick. Testing…
Since 1984, the minimum legal drinking age has been twenty-one (Fact Sheets - Age 21). Many people have been debating whether or not that age should be lowered, especially people with ties to colleges or students in college. These people believe that if the age were lowered, the problem with binge drinking in college students would be solved. Despite what many people may think, lowering the drinking age will most likely not solve the problem of binge drinking among college students. Instead of solving the problem of binge drinking, problems would be created that were not realized before.…