The Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration’s Annual National Survey On Drug

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s annual National Survey on Drug Use has shown increased substance abuse from previous years. Approximately 24.6 million people in America were using drugs in 2013. To examine the guidelines for group treatment goals, I interviewed a substance use disorder professional and asked him about the group treatment goals and how to prepare for group treatments as a mental health professional. While responding to these queries, he said the first and vital thing to consider is pre-group planning.

It consists of reviewing assessment information of all members, having some prior knowledge about each group member before the meeting starts, arranging seats in the circle for better communication, and having handouts available for participants. After the initial preparation, the second step is to begin the discussion. Introduce the group leader and welcome the members of the group. Ask members to introduce themselves; the group leader should explain the benefits of group therapy and ask general questions to make members comfortable in the group, define proper group rules to promote positive group norms, shape appropriate group behaviour, and reduce participants’ anxieties. Throughout the sessions, focus on the importance of the goal members want to achieve at the end of the treatment by discussing why it is essential to break free from substance abuse.

There are two types of groups: fixed and revolved. Fixed groups stay together for a long time, while in revolving groups, members remain together until they accomplish their goals. In fixed members or time-limited groups, learning builds on the prior meeting material. So, participants need to be in the group from the beginning. In revolving groups, clients are admitted and discharged regularly. They stay until they finish the goal, and the group has no absolute number of participants. In substance abuse cases, the revolving groups are considered more useful as they are long-term, and the user can leave after accomplishing the goals. There are many factors considered before forming a therapeutic group for substance abusers. Some of the elements are confidentiality, contact among members, coordination of therapy, medication issues, and family involvement.

Persons who misuse substances are an extensive and varied population, one that ranges in all ethnic groups and ages and includes individuals with a wide diversity of co‐occurring circumstances and own pasts. In functioning with individuals who have drug misuse disorders, an active leader should have personal qualities such as constancy, active listening skills, firm identity, empathy, humour, trust, integrity, spontaneity, and responsibility for ensuring that members are engaged meaningfully and continuously. The therapeutic styles of leaders change with the needs of patients.

In the first and second stages of the treatment, the leaders are more active and helpful, but in the last stage, they offer less gratification and support. To regulate the kind of guidance necessary to provide a person with the cure, the clinician should think through the client’s ability to core stability, social support, level of functioning, and effect, as these influences have more or less bearing upon illicit drug use or alcohol. These concerns are crucial to concluding the nature of suitable to meet the requirements.