THE ILLICIT DRUG ADDICTION:
Exploring Opportunities
For Constructive Change
There are consequences for illicit drug abuse and are of concern to us
all as parents, spouses, father, mother, brother, sister, family member, neighbor, professional or distant relative.
all as parents, spouses, father, mother, brother, sister, family member, neighbor, professional or distant relative.
There is a growing need to gain knowledge and improvise in areas such as parenting, communications, leaderships, crisis management, anger management, social work, community services and so on.
Professional service providers need to seize every available opportunity to consolidate and enhance the quality and integrity of their services. Likewise, individual efforts must be geared towards building a team effort.
This blog links to articles on drug addiction, detoxification, treatment and rehabilitation, relapse prevention and, steps to recovery and collaborative services provided by of open- and closed- setting institutions.
It contains many years of experience gained pertaining to drug related supervision, psychological assessments, counselling sessions, peer support group efforts and aftercare services.
Consistent and all-out effort are made to ensure that these are made available to the general public. The contents do not necessarily reflect our common interests, experience, environment and expectations and readers are encouraged to research further.
SUPERVISION To supervise a drug abuser, urine specimens need be taken and analysed for content of any illegal drugs of abuse. Upon positive confirmation of any illicit drug being abused, corrective and supportive, remedial actions must be initiated.
Dependents, spouses, parents and guardians of an illicit drug abuser must be informed of these negative, self-destructive and harm inducing behavior.
Knowledge about the abuser's living conditions, environments, peers, education level, any work experience and vocational skills, net income, family situations and daily habits will help a professional (social worker, supervisor, psychologist, counselor, peer support worker, motivator, team builder, etc.) to build rapport and consolidate effective support services.
Understanding the consequences befalling a person upon being discovered as an illicit drug abuser may subject the person to lose certain benefits, family support, career opportunities and community acceptance.
PSYCHOLOGICAL There exists a number of psychological assessment tools to utilize for assessing a person or individual at initial, ongoing and end of a treatment, rehabilitation and recovery process.
These assessment tools should be administered to the illicit drug abuser with best efforts to avail resources and maintain a certain acceptable level of service.
COUNSELLING Counselling should be provided in ongoing sessions and to clients who feel obliged to attend.
Counselling interventions should also be provided at the earliest stage, proactively, as an opportunity for persons on a first time case to kick the habit and avoid prosecution.
PEER SUPPORT Peer Support Group is another service delivery mechanism provided by ex-drug abusers who have shown successful recovery and integration into society.
They should be trained in a number of social support techniques including therapeutic community approach.
AFTERCARE Illicit drug abusers with a need to recover must consider the following:
- Getting rid of any residual drug proteins from the body;
- Change in life behaviors, adopting a positive and healthy mentality, attitudes and habits and, adding on life enhancing skills;
- Reclaim self honor, discipline, integrity and acceptance;
- Change of peers to improve and boost morale, motivation, self-esteem;
- Change the living conditions and environments to suit a healthier life style;
- Get ongoing professional support and services.
ROLES OF PARENTS, GUARDIANS, SPOUSES & CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS Firstly, we must all admit that the illicit drug problem exists. Denying it will only postpone the recovery process and escalates the problem, especially where none exist before.
Parents, guardians, spouses, dependents and close family members must individually and jointly contribute to an illicit drug addicted person on the road towards their full and sustainable recovery with support from professionals.
We must realize that, slippages do occur and are signs of someone close to us needing ongoing, recurring, regular attention, care, motivation and support.
We need to better ourselves, be stronger and as role models in order to give support and motivation to others.
PREVENTIVE DRUG EDUCATION Educating the public about drugs and consequences of illicit abuse has become the modern age school curriculum, unheard of in the '70s.
Mass media has helped the spread of information and entertainment explosion with the technological achievements and advances.
However, it is still up to individuals as part of a family and community at large to differentiate and utilize in the most appropriate and beneficial way.
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION This probably is an important factor towards early recovery.
More information will be added later.
DETOXIFICATION Treatment should start with removing toxins from the body via detoxification. There exists a number of mechanisms to administer and induce detoxification.
More information will follow later.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Currently supervising a daily average of more than 250 illicit drug addicts throughout Brunei Darussalam with assistance of supervisors and further supported by professionals in psychology, counseling, aftercare, peer support and post-rehabilitation.
This blog is continuously improved upon.