Drug Therapy Options
People fighting drug addiction often carry on an internal battle whether to attend drug
treatment programs. Most times, the person will concoct excuses about not having any
addiction and carry on down the wrong road. Several reasons are there for a person’s
awareness of his addiction and the aim of a proper rehabilitation. The most common
reasons are indeed the most obvious:
• Personal Health: Alcohol and drugs negatively affect the body and eventually cause
irreversible damage/death.
• Mental State: Personalities are altered by drugs. Family & friends are generally the first to
detect before the addict himself does.
• Relationships: Alcohol and drugs affect personal relationships. The addict often cuts
himself off from everybody.
• Family: Addicts put tremendous stress on his family and can tear families apart.
• Happiness: While drug addicts may appear happy, normally they are seeking some
missing internal contentment (Narconon, 2012).
The discussion will address the different aspects of drug treatment programs/options and
the peculiarities of each topic in the below sections. Such topics cover employee assistance
programs and the support given to employees battling drug addiction and comparing
inpatient/outpatient therapy programs. Regarding the two treatment programs mentioned
earlier, a discussion will take place on the various modalities offered like psychotherapy,
group therapy and individual therapy. Finally, the discussion will conclude with details of
the features of successful and notable programs.
Addicted Employees and Employee Assistance Programs
These days, the increasing work load often leads to behavioral issues in the workplace such
as conflicts at home, emotional disturbances and drug abuse issues that can hinder a
worker’s efficiency and thwart his desire to give his best. The government recognized this
ongoing problem for creating major problems at the work place many years back when
President Reagan in 1986 directed the US federal agencies to initiate the employee
assistance program (EAP) for those who work for or are employed by the government.
Back then, non-governmental agencies were encouraged to initiate such kind of services.
The EAP’s purpose was and still remains, to assist employees in any sort of distress,
whether it’s work related or due to violence, economic problems or natural disaster
(Levinthal, 2010).
Nowadays, more privatized companies and agencies are aware of the need to initiate EAPs,
as “latest national surveys reveal that EAP services exist in almost 75 percent of all
companies in the US” (Attridge, 2010, p. 35). Over the years, EAPs have undergone
dramatic change and improvement. Earlier, they mostly provided help by rendering
temporary counseling or by offering additional referrals to other companies, but now they
also help train employers in recognizing certain issues & mental problems of employees.
EAPs are far more complex than before, offering different programs & assistance, which
provide help “to tackle a range of mental health, workplace performance and substance
abuse issues among workers and their families” (Attridge, 2010, p. 35). Moreover, where
the EAPs earlier were typically on-site work services, now several possibilities are there
regarding the provision of service. EAPs extend to employees and employers in need,
including via a 24-hour call service and the Internet. It’s very significant that there are
additional means to communicate with one another, as studies show that people are more
comfortable asking for online help rather than in real personal interactions (Barret, 2010).
Assistance given via EAPs is voluntary since it’s not compulsory for employees to
participate in such programs. If, for example, an employee has substance abuse problems,
he can request help via the EAPs, which provide short-term counsel, guidance in finding the
right therapy program, advice, appointment scheduling and expectations after end of
treatment. Research shows that initiating workplace EAP services helps reduce behavioral
issues, including substance abuse at work. Besides, EAPs also facilitate the creation of
healthier work morale, greater productivity, and lesser absenteeism (Keay, Durand,
Macdonald, Csiernik & Wild, 2010). The seriousness of the addiction also serves as an
indicator as to the kind of recommendations the EAP could extend to employees for
inpatient/outpatient rehab centers.
Comparing inpatient & outpatient therapy programs
The therapy & recovery program include outpatient and inpatient programs. In inpatient
programs, the patient is permitted to come and leave as per his choice; he also has the
flexibility to remain onsite in the day and return home at night. In the outpatient programs,
the patients stay onsite for at least 4 weeks, with an assurance that they’ll not leave.
The Watershed Addition Treatment plan is an illustration of an inpatient plan. The
inpatient program at Watershed provides an environment that lets a patient to concentrate
on recovering minus the daily distractions. Watershed offers in patient treatment programs
such as medical Detox, Halfway House/ Sober Living and Psychiatric Care.
At the
conclusion of the program, extended care programs are offered. They believe in “Let
Recovery Be Your Recover” (Watershed Addition Treatment Program, 2006, para. 1).
Laguna Beach Mission Hospital offers a 30-day inpatient program that concentrates on
holistic therapies as well as the twelve steps of AA (Mission Hospital, 2009). They render
yoga, group activities, nutrition counseling and pain management techniques sans opiates
such as acupuncture and relaxation exercises.
Pavilion, South Carolina offers an outpatient program treatment, which lets the patient to
lessen the impact on his work and family life (Pavilion, 2012). They also offer family
education & support sessions as part of their services. Counseling sessions are provided
both in the daytime and evenings, giving patients’ the benefit of flexible schedules. The
sessions include individual or couples counseling.
When comparing the 2 options, the person who progresses from preparation point to
action point of his recovery journey, must consider his options. There are significant
differences in cost, as the inpatient program requires room & board. The commitment to
stay for 4-6 straight weeks at a facility indeed is difficult for any family and therefore
flexible hours are necessary for family interaction. Both options advocate an inpatient
detoxification plan that offers medical assistance if required. One thing to bear in mind
regarding the outpatient program preference is that the patient can maintain
confidentiality about his condition as he does not require time off from work to begin the
recovery process.
Therapy Modalities Provided By Various Programs
There are several drug treatment programs available to drug abusers striving to change
their lives. Treatment conditions include long-term or short-term resident programs &
outpatient
programs.
Therapy
pharmacological/nonpharmacological
behavioral therapies (Nsimba, 2007).
categories
methods
that
could
incorporate
include
psychosocial
or
“Outpatient Drug Free” programs (ODF) are outpatient therapy programs that don’t include
pharmacological treatments. ODF programs employ behavioral therapies like cognitive
therapy, family/couple therapy, skills training, group therapy, counseling and meditation
(Grossman, 2009). Such treatment programs can be further categorized as harm reduction
or abstinence-based treatment modalities. Patients in formal therapy programs often
participate in community-centered self-help groups. Indeed, abstinence-based programs
such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous and Alcoholic Anonymous (AA)
were the popular treatment programs for 52.9 percent of a group studied (Peavy, Cochran,
& Wax, 2010). The abstinence-based programs concentrate on the abuser remaining 100
percent clean from drugs or alcohol.
Harm-reduction programs at times employ
behavior/cognitive therapies like motivational interviewing or cognitive evaluation to
explain the merits and demerits of drug abuse to lower substance usage (Nsimba, 2007).
Therapy modalities could also combine behavioral or cognitive therapies together with
pharmacological treatments. Furthermore, depending on the drugs abused, the treatment
may also employ medications together with behavior therapy so as to decrease
alcohol/opiate use. Naltrexone is known to help cut heavy drinking as it makes drinking
distasteful. Buprenorphine is helpful as methadone in remedying opiate addiction & has
less significant side effects and lesser abuse possibility (Nsimba, 2007). The shortcomings
of the usefulness of pharmacological interventions are the absence of adherence in
ingesting the drug for the recommended length of time.
Long or short-term resident drug abuse therapy programs can be an excellent treatment
option if outpatient therapies are ineffective or removing the drug abuser from his
environment would be helpful (Levinthal, 2010). Temporary resident facilities use similar
therapy modalities as outpatient facilities including pharmacotherapies, self-help groups
and behavior therapies. In-patient stays usually last for 2-4 weeks as there’s no evidence
that longer stays tend to be more beneficial (Miller, 2007). The long-term resident
therapies last 3-6 months and include recovery houses or half-way homes where the drug
abuser may continue getting support and therapy (Levinthal, 2010).
Features of successful programs
Businesses and organizations are designing and implementing drug & alcohol programs in
workplaces. It’s extremely important for an organization to have written alcohol/drug
policies in the place of work for their employees. However, all the programs will not be
effective, and a lot of people will not opt for alcohol/drug intervention therapy for
numerous reasons. The effectiveness of an alcohol/drug program chosen by an individual
depends on the kind of intervention he is in quest of. “Treatment centers, specialists and
therapists” are often the final option that individuals select to prevent drug abuse (n, 2012,
para. 6). The person must consider each program’s characteristics when selecting a
program.
Companies provide employee assistance programs in offices to help people affected by
drug abuse. EAP’s are professionally staffed and appointments may be fixed within 48
hours. People can instantly access a “referral system of ancillary emergency services”
(Franklin Health).
Several outpatient/inpatient programs are available at treatment facilities providing
group/individual therapy” for couples/families that are impacted by mental or substance
abuse. A person must take into consideration several factors when selecting inpatient vs.
outpatient programs due to established rehab policies. Individual requirements and rehab
center policies govern the period of stay - from twenty-four hours to 6 weeks. Upon
completion of inpatient treatment, the individual transitions into a comprehensive
outpatient treatment.
Individuals using outpatient facilities have less restriction as under outpatient programs,
individuals are allowed to obtain treatments and stay at their homes. This enables patients
with jobs to be more productive. It’s important for patients to interact with their family
members while undergoing this kind of therapy. Patients can also avail of the partial
hospitalization treatment program, where they are required to attend for 3-12 hours daily,
several times a week. “The patient can stay at home at nighttime, but attends therapy more
frequently compared to an individual undergoing routine outpatient therapy”
(SoberRecovery, 2010, para. 3). Regardless of which alcohol/drug program a person opts
for, he requires treatment to function normally in his daily environment and to increase
workplace efficiency.
Conclusion
"Considering how drug abuse adversely affects productivity, one should anticipate
considerable economic & personal benefits once drug-free workplace strategies are
established" (Levinthal, 2010, p. 406). Drugs tend to negatively affect the user and those
around him, no matter who the individual is or what is his occupation. Some people may
use recreational/ prescription drugs without knowing about addiction or the negative
consequences. For most people, drug abuse can wreak havoc at home, school, personal
relationships and work, leaving the person feeling helpless, ashamed, or isolated (Help
Guide, 2012).
The subject matter covered dealt with employee assistance programs plus the support
provided
by
each
for
addicted
individuals
together
with
the
benefits
of
outpatient/inpatient programs. The different modalities were also dealt with, like solo
therapy, group therapy etc. Finally, the different features of the best programs concluded
the discussion together with the common features of such treatment programs.
References
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