It is essential to create an understanding of drug and substance abuse. Many people mistakenly think that drug addicts lack the willpower and moral principles to stay away from drugs. The belief is supported by the position of society that people can stop drug abuse by simply choosing to. In reality, drug addicts are suffering from their situation, and they can appreciate support when the benefits are realized. According to Chia & Mashika (2023), drug addiction is a complex disease that requires intervention from the relevant experts. Psychologists can support individuals who are going through drug addiction.
Drugs influence the brain to the extent that it is challenging to quit drug use past a particular stage. Fortunately, psychologists have established practical approaches to managing drug and substance abuse. According to Chia & Mashika (2023), the impact of drugs on the brain can be ordered through deliberate actions that support the victims in the recovery process. Treating addiction as a disease will go a long way in managing the stereotypes that are exposed to drug addicts. The understanding that drug addiction is a compulsive behavior can help to manage most cases of addiction.
Usually, the initial decision to engage in drug use is always voluntary. With repeated actions, individuals lose their ability to control themselves when it comes to drug use. In the long run, drug use challenges the ability of an individual to exercise self-control when it comes to drug abuse. Professional counseling is critical to managing drug addiction. According to psychologists, people who are in recovery from drug use are at increased risk of relapsing (Doyle, 2021). Therefore, it is necessary to put enough strategies to support drug addicts in the entire process of recovery. Analysis in this paper is focused on professional counseling services for people who abuse drugs and substances. Further study is placed on assessment and testing, treatment options and services, social and cultural awareness and considerations, and the parameters within the counseling profession for helping drug addicts.
Assessment and Testing for Drug Addiction
Assessment and testing for drug addiction is a critical step in the entire process of professional counseling. Through the application of the requisite techniques, professional counselors should engage effective strategies in determining the presence and severity of addiction. Some of the methods that are critical to assessment and testing for drug addiction include clinical interviews, screening tools, physical examination, laboratory tests, psychological assessments, diagnostic criteria, self-report questionnaires, functional assessment, family and social history, and continuous monitoring (Supriyanto et al., 2021). A clinical interview involves the process that a professional counselor uses to gather information about patterns, history, and consequences of an individual’s drug use. Clinical interviews are integral to understanding the co-occurring mental health disorders and the extent of addiction.
Screening tools are essential in assessing the likelihood of drug addiction. For example, professional counselors apply the CAGE questionnaire, the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST), and the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) to establish the likelihood of drug addiction (Supriyanto et al., 2021). Physical examination is usually conducted to show the effects of drug abuse on the physical health of the individual. Physical examination is critical because it rules out medical conditions that are linked to addiction. Related to physical examination, professional counselors tend to recommend laboratory tests to provide objective evidence of the history of drug abuse. Often, laboratory tests are based on blood, urine, or hair to detect the presence of drugs in the body.
Physiological assessments are carried out to establish personality traits, psychological functioning, and the prevailing psychological factors that are related to drug addiction. The entire approach to evaluation and testing is based on the need to establish the extent of drug addiction. Diagnostic criteria involve strategies that are applied by professional counselors to formally establish drug use disorder (Dunbar et al., 2021). Diagnostic criteria are based on specific psychological and behavioral symptoms. Self-report questionnaires are equally critical to the assessment and testing of drug addiction. Individuals are asked to complete questionnaires that consider their beliefs, attitudes, and motivations toward drug use. The self-report questionnaires are essential in accessing insights into the perception of individuals regarding the needed change.
Functional assessment is used to establish the impact of addiction on various aspects of life. For example, practical assessment is applied to understand the effects of drug addiction on relationships, daily functioning, and work performance (Dunbar et al., 2021). Family and social history provide the opportunity for professional counselors to establish the link between drug addiction and the victim’s family and social circle. Family and social history make it possible to deal with risk factors and identify the requisite support system for the affected individual. Continuous monitoring is the last technique that should be applied by professional counselors in assessing and testing drug use. Regular monitoring is effective in establishing the progress that is being made in managing drug addiction. Often, continuous monitoring entails drug testing, reevaluation of symptoms, and feedback from the victims and their support system. Generally, drug use assessment and testing should involve combining the identified techniques.
Treatment Options and Services for Drug Addiction
Drug addiction comes with health, social, and economic consequences to the individual and the family. Therefore, it is necessary to seek support before the condition worsens. Treatment options and services are integral to supporting drug and substance addicts to maintain the recovery journey. According to Fidiawati et al. (2020), recommendations for treatment options and services vary depending on the preference of the victim, medical history, and the level of addiction. Detoxification, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, medication-assisted Treatment, counseling and therapy, support groups, holistic therapies, dual diagnosis treatment, family therapy, and aftercare planning are the main treatment options and services for drug addiction.
Detoxification is the first step in treating drug addiction. According to Fidiawati et al. (2020), detoxification is applied in the first stage to get rid of the drugs’ toxins from the body. At the same time, detoxification is essential in managing withdrawal symptoms. Inpatient rehabilitation follows immediately after detoxification. It involves 24-hour care in a residential setting to prevent the individual from relapsing. Inpatient rehabilitation is based on a structured environment that focuses on recovery away from temptations and triggers. On the other hand, outpatient rehabilitation enables patients to access Treatment while living at home. The option is effective for patients with mild addiction as they can attend therapy sessions, support groups, and counseling while living at home.
Medication-assisted Treatment (MAT) includes the combination of medication with behavioral therapies and counseling to manage drug use and abuse. Counseling and therapy are critical services for drug use and abuse. Counseling and therapy apply motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and contingency management to help individuals manage drug abuse. Support groups come in handy during the process of drug addiction treatment as advice regarding the best ways to work drug use is offered. Holistic therapies are equally important as they provide new hobbies and lifestyles to individuals who are addicted to drug use (Lososová et al., 2021). With a comprehensive approach to Treatment, it is possible to support drug addicts in recovering from the vice. Professional counselors are critical to helping individuals who have an addiction. Professional counselors are skilled and understand the approaches that are effective in managing drug addiction.
Social and Cultural Awareness
Social and cultural factors play an integral role in supporting the fight against drug and substance abuse. Both social and cultural factors inform public perceptions of drug addiction and the support that is offered to individuals who are struggling with drug addiction. Therefore, facilitating social and cultural awareness should be a priority in the process of treating drug addiction. Stigma reduction is one of the issues that should be considered regarding social and cultural understanding. According to Lososová et al. (2021), stigma should be managed because it can create marginalization, discrimination, and barriers for the affected individuals. Promoting empathy toward the affected individuals becomes effective in addressing drug and substance abuse in society.
The existing myths and misconceptions about drug addiction can be managed through education and awareness programs. Increasing public awareness through deliberate education programs will go a long way in improving the understanding of drug addiction. Additionally, education programs are effective in highlighting the adverse impacts of addiction and the need for an evidence-based approach to Treatment (Lososová et al., 2021). Overall, the entire approach to drug addiction is poised to change when education is embraced in society. Education explains that drug addiction is considered differently across communities and cultures. With such an approach, creating culturally competent care for the affected individuals is practical.
Community support is critical to enhancing social and cultural awareness around drug addiction. Supportive communities are essential in offering acceptance, compassion, and resources for the affected individuals. With an enabling environment resulting from a supportive community, it is possible for the stakeholders to implement prevention efforts. Issues such as unemployment, poverty, and trauma can be addressed effectively when the communities are supportive. Finally, the media has an important role when it comes to shaping public attitudes and perceptions towards drug addiction. Responsible coverage of drug addiction is essential in increasing awareness and changing the retrogressive cultural beliefs about drug addiction (Lososová et al., 2021). Since social and cultural awareness around drug addiction is multifaceted, the media address stigma and other factors that deter the control of drug addiction.
Parameters within the Counseling Profession
Parameters within the counseling profession are associated with ethical standards that professional counselors should meet while treating their clients. Some parameters include confidentiality, informed consent, boundaries, and cultural competence. As a parameter and an ethical requirement, confidentiality requires counselors to protect the information provided by clients and maintain the privacy of sensitive data (Tripathy & Sahu, 2020). A professional counselor has the power to breach the parameter of confidentiality if there is a risk of harm to the client. There are established procedures for revealing personal information about the client. Professional counselors should act within the established frameworks to avoid ethical or legal consequences.
Informed consent is equally vital regarding parameters within the counseling profession. Before making further decisions, professional counselors must obtain informed consent from clients. To illustrate, counselors should obtain consent by explaining the purpose of the therapy, the role of confidentiality in the entire process, and the risk involved in the treatment process (Tripathy & Sahu, 2020). Regarding boundaries, professional counselors should avoid romantic relationships with clients and behaviors that could interfere with the ability of the client to express herself. Finally, cultural competence is a critical parameter that all counselors should adhere to. Cultural competence is demonstrated by understanding and respecting the social, cultural, and ethnic background of the client. Furthermore, cultural competence requires the counselor to remain aware of the biases and prejudices in the profession. As such, it is possible to adapt counseling approaches that meet the adverse needs of clients.
Certification Requirement
Professional counselors’ certification requirements differ depending on the state and the specific practice. The standard requirements in all states include education, supervised experience, examination, and ethics and jurisprudence. Individuals must complete a master’s degree in counseling or any other related field. Many licensing boards focus on the education level before approving an individual as a counselor. Besides education, individuals must complete between 2000 and 4000 hours of supervised clinical experience (Tripathy & Sahu, 2020). The experience is gained through internships under the supervision of accredited psychologists. By passing a licensing examination, candidates prove that they have attained knowledge and competency in the field. Ethics and jurisprudence are the final requirements that candidates should meet. Passing an ethics exam is the core of proving that a candidate has the requisite knowledge of ethical standards. It is essential for individuals who are interested in professional counseling to adhere to the established certification requirements.
References
Chia, F., & Mashika, E. (2023). Access to drug treatment services in Nigeria: The challenge of the addiction workforce. Journal of Substance Use, 28(3), 367-370.
Doyle, K. S. (2021). The opioid crisis: How counselors can and should respond. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 43(2), 112-124.
Dunbar Jr, E. T., Nelson, M. D., & Tarabochia, D. S. (2021). Essential Addictions Terminology for School Counselors. Journal of school counseling, 19(12), n12.
Fidiawati, L., Firman, F., & Solfema, S. (2020). Development of group counseling guidelines for student self control improvement in prevention of drug abuse. Jurnal Aplikasi IPTEK Indonesia, 4(1), 24-31.
Lososová, A., Johnson, K. A., Sinkele, W., Obot, I. S., & Miovský, M. (2021). Overview of university-based academic programs in addiction studies in Africa. Journal of Substance Use, 26(1), 102-106.
Supriyanto, A., Hendiani, N., Hartini, S., & Sabri, F. (2021). Addiction counselor profession: perception of family support for recovering from drug abuse addiction. Counsellia: Jurnal Bimbingan Dan Konseling, 11(1), 17-30.
Tripathy, M., & Sahu, B. (2020). The Counseling Techniques in Tackling the Problem of Truancy Among the Students of Uttarakhand Schools. International Journal of Scientific Advances (IJSCIA), 1(3), 177-180.
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