Spirituality, Religion, and Mutual Support Programs

2018 ◽  
pp. 77-89
Author(s):  
Antoine Douaihy ◽  
H. Patrick Driscoll
Author(s):  
Dennis C. Daley ◽  
Antoine Douaihy

There are many counseling approaches, treatment programs, and psychosocial interventions for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). Although some have been shown in clinical trials to be more effective than others, to date there is no single, superior treatment approach appropriate for all clients. While brief treatments have been successful with alcohol problems, longer term treatments are often needed for drug problems. For clients with more severe SUDs, long-term involvement in professional treatment (including medication-assisted therapies), mutual support programs, or both may be needed. This chapter includes a summary of treatment principles and guidelines that can serve as a framework for helping clients with SUDs.


Author(s):  
Dennis C. Daley ◽  
Antoine Douaihy

Numerous mutual support programs exist to help clients cope with substance use problem. The most common of these programs are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and other 12-step programs. All mutual support programs involve people with alcohol or drug problems helping each other. Some people maintain lifelong involvement in mutual support programs, and others use them for a limited period of time. Although programs vary in philosophies and approaches, most involve fellowship, recovery meetings, program steps or guidelines, recovery literature, social events, and internet resources. Some areas have recovery clubs or clubhouses for people in recovery. These provide an alcohol- and drug-free environment in which one can attend recovery meetings or other social events. The goals of this chapter are to learn about the different types of mutual support programs available and to determine which type of program may work for the client.


Author(s):  
Dennis C. Daley ◽  
Antoine Douaihy

Recovery is a process of change in which clients improve their health and wellness. They set goals to work toward stopping substance use and learn skills to change themselves and their lifestyles so they can live substance-free. There are different paths to recovery, including individual, group, and/or family therapy; engaging in a treatment program such as a residential or nonresidential rehabilitation program; taking medications for addiction to alcohol, opioids, or nicotine; engaging in mutual support programs; participating in chat room discussions or online recovery meetings; using support from other people; and participating in community or self-growth activities that help clients sustain recovery. The goals of this chapter are for clients to begin to set and prioritize their recovery goals and to learn about the different paths and components of recovery.


Author(s):  
Dennis C. Daley ◽  
Antoine Douaihy

For the overall family, recovery involves changing how the family functions. It not only has to adjust to the sobriety of the recovering member (if this person is in recovery) but also has to make changes to function more effectively as a unit. Areas the family may need to address include accepting the SUD, stopping behaviors that reinforce substance use, improving communication, shifting family roles, reestablishing boundaries between generations, and building family togetherness. In some families, problems such as violence or abuse must be addressed. Professional treatment may be needed to address these issues and make changes in how the family functions. The change process can continue after treatment in mutual support programs.


Author(s):  
Dennis C. Daley ◽  
Antoine Douaihy

Any client who attempts to modify alcohol, tobacco, or drug use behavior faces the possibility of lapse or relapse. A lapse refers to the initial episode of use following a period of abstinence. A lapse may be quickly stopped by the client or it may lead to a relapse or continued use of a substance. How a client interprets and responds to a lapse plays a significant role in whether or not it leads to a relapse. The risk of lapse or relapse is highest in the first 3 months of recovery, when most relapses occur. Low motivation and poor participation in therapy or mutual support programs can raise the risk of relapse, even for clients who recently completed a residential or ambulatory treatment program. Other precipitants of relapse include psychiatric illness or an inability to cope with the challenges of recovery. Helping clients remain in therapy and identify and manage early relapse warning signs and high-risk situations are ways to lower the client’s risk of relapse.


Author(s):  
Dennis C. Daley ◽  
Antoine Douaihy

Effective treatment of clients with co-occurring disorders (CODs) requires the practitioner to be familiar with the continuum of care so that clients become engaged in services needed to address their disorders and related problems. Evidence suggests that clients receiving integrated treatment have higher rates of treatment adherence and improved clinical outcomes, particularly those with more persistent and chronic forms of psychiatric disorders. Therefore, it is best to provide integrated care that focuses on both types of disorders, regardless of whether the client is in an inpatient, residential, or ambulatory treatment setting. Given that clients with CODs have higher rates of problems with treatment adherence compared to those with a single type of disorder, this chapter reviews strategies to improve adherence. It also delineates recovery issues in the domains of physical/lifestyle, psychological, behavioral/cognitive, family/interpersonal/social, and personal growth/maintenance. The authors stress the potential helpfulness of mutual support programs and discuss clinical challenges such as suicide, violence, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis C.


2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 313-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis M. Donovan ◽  
Michelle H. Ingalsbe ◽  
James Benbow ◽  
Dennis C. Daley

Author(s):  
Dennis C. Daley ◽  
Antoine Douaihy

There are many paths to recovery, and mutual support programs (MSPs) are one of the most common paths taken. MSPs offer a community of recovery in which individuals with substance abuse disorders (SUDs) help and support each other in numerous ways. The most widely available MSPs are the 12-step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA), Marijuana Anonymous (MA), and Heroin Anonymous (HA). AA and NA are available throughout the world, whereas the other 12-step programs are less accessible. Although some clients participate throughout their lives in MSPs, others use them for only a specific period of time. Clients vary in their needs for involvement in MSPs. The objectives of this chapter are to provide clients with information about mutual support programs and recovery clubs, to help clients identify drawbacks and benefits of attending MSPs and recovery clubs, and to help clients identify specific MSPs that can enhance their recovery.


Author(s):  
Dennis C. Daley ◽  
Antoine Douaihy

There are many different types of therapy and counseling approaches for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug problems. Treatment is most effective when it helps clients develop and improve skills for dealing with the challenges and demands of recovery and the problems associated with substance use. Involving family in the treatment process can also increase the chances of successful treatment; so can active participation in mutual support programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. The goals of this chapter are for clients to learn how to get the most out of their treatment and to familiarize themselves with behaviors that may have a negative impact on their therapy.


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