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Mallory Easley
Mrs. DeBock
English 4 H
9 November 2016
How to Help a Drug Addict
A traumatic event in a child's life will possibly lead to drug addiction if untreated, that is
why there are counseling settings and recovery programs for people with these problems. With
that being said it raises a number of questions, such as: What types of counseling are there? Does
counseling always work? What does one do if he or she does not have the money or means to
attend a counseling service? How does one prepare for counseling or treatment programs? Are
there things he or she can do at home and their everyday life? All of these are valid and
important questions because looking for a treatment program or counseling service can be
challenging and stressful for addicts and their families.
First, one needs to be educated on what a drug counselor is. Drug abuse counselors
specialize in the treatment and recovery of substance abusers. They work with people suffering
from dependencies on any type of drug ranging from cocaine to marijuana (Drug Abuse
Counselors). They can work in various settings, such as hospitals, detention centers, mental
health facilities, detox centers, etc. So what does a drug abuse counselor do? A drug abuse
counselor works with the drug user in a therapy setting. His or her purpose is to find the root of
the addiction and help patients progress into sobriety. Depending on the underlying cause of the
addiction discovered, the counselor develops an individual treatment plan for each patient
(Drug Abuse Counselors). With this being said there are four main therapy types: motivational

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interviewing, contingency management, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and family therapy. Each

of these has a different purpose and the counselor will pick the best one for the specific patient.
Motivational interviewing is a type of therapy that prepares individuals to change their regular
behavior and accept treatment for their addictions. Contingency management is a type of positive
reinforcement counseling that encourages the patient to abstain from drug use. When progress is
made, the patient is rewarded for his or her efforts, and on the contrary, when he or she regresses,
a punishment is incurred and the reward is withheld. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a plan that
leads patients to understand and avoid situations that are most likely to influence them to use
drugs. It also teaches coping skills to the patient. Family therapy is also called multidimensional
family therapy. It is used to improve the functioning of a family as well as address influences
that may be pressed on the patient from the family unit. This approach involves the family of the
user in treatment by working with each member alone and the family together as a unit (Drug
Abuse Counselors). Each of these will always focus on the patient. The goal of therapy is to dig
deep into the patient and figure out why he or she is behaving in the way that they are, and once
this has been figured out how he or she can fix what they are doing and move forward with
positive thoughts and actions.
Second, there is the question of if therapy always works. Once again everyone is different
but there may be a number of reasons as to why a patient may not be getting better. There may
be fears of judgement, rejection, assuming greater responsibility, success, and intimacy.
However, there could be problems on the other end of the spectrum that are not of the patients
control. There could have been a misdiagnosis, the patient is in the wrong type of therapy, the
tempo of the therapy could be wrong, etc. There are many reasons as to why things could go

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wrong but if this is the case the patient needs to come forward and speak with his or her therapist
about what steps they could take next to fix the problem. Ignoring the situation and just
continuing out the treatment is not an acceptable way to help said patient. Ignoring the problem
will only make things worse and the patient will remain exactly the same. So what could the
patient ask his or her therapist? There are a number of questions, such as: How long should it
take for me to see results?, Would medication help? What about lifestyle changes?, What
treatment method are we using, and is it too early to try a different approach?, etc. The patient
has to remember that the therapist is there solely to help them succeed and asking questions and
admitting how they truly feel will not hurt them in any way.
Third, what does the patient do if he or she does not have the money or means to get
help? For people living in poverty and those who are unemployed, even homeless, and struggling
with the physical, emotional, and financial cost of addiction, the idea of entering a treatment
program seems impossible because there is simply no money available. Because many treatment
programs are beyond the ability of these individuals or their families to afford, some of them
attempt a dangerous cold-turkey or at-home detox, or other treatment methods that are not
evidence-based and offered by organizations with questionable qualifications (How to
Find...Centers). When these individuals are in these situations, they may not know that there are
options out there for them. Just a little effort in a positive direction can get them where they need
to be. Research is needed to find the best option for each persons specific financial situation.
Most states provide funding for drug and alcohol rehabilitation services through public mental
health or substance abuse treatment centers that can be accessed by those with no insurance or no
income (How to Find...Centers). There are a few qualifications for this: Official residence in

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the state, based on the states definition, Legal residence in the US, Addiction status and need for
intervention, etc. There is also the option of faith-based rehab. A number of faith-based groups
provide drug and alcohol recovery programs. These include the Christian Salvation Army Adult
Rehabilitation Centers and Harbor Light detox and residential centers, which can be found
nationwide, as well as a variety of other rehab centers and organizations dedicated to residential
rehabilitation and support based on their specific faith traditions (How to Find...Centers).
Fourth, how does one prepare for counseling? Some patients have to travel to other states
in order to attend specific treatment programs and this involves them picking up and leaving
their lives and families behind. This can be hard for just about anyone, so there are ways that the
addict can brace for what is to come. First one must tie up any loose ends before going into
addiction treatment. In general, it is important that someone takes care of any work, family or
financial obligations. This is because while the patient is in treatment, his or her entire focus
should ideally be on oneself and one's recovery (Ways to Prepare for Rehab). The next step is
to keep an open mind, because this is an essential part to getting the most out of recovery. It is
not easy to go into treatment without expectations and preconceived ideas but the more one can
be open to the process, the more he or she will be able to benefit from it (Ways to Prepare for
Rehab). The most important step of all is to be patient. It is easier said than done, but if one can
practice being patient with his or herself, with others and with the process, it will serve well in
both the short and long term (Ways to Prepare for Rehab). Throughout the process the patient
has to understand that he or she is a work in progress and not everything will come to them right
away but rather with time and hard work deep within.

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Lastly, one has to understand the many responses to trauma and how to deal with them.
As stated before, everyone is different and no one case is the same, therefore there is one last
treatment that may work for some addicts. If a patient does not want to enter treatment or seek
counseling he or she can deal with the stresses in their homes and everyday lives. There are a
plethora of physical reactions to trauma such as: aches and pains like headaches, backaches,
stomachaches, easily startled by noises or unexpected touch, increased use of alcohol or drugs
and/or overeating, etc. Many emotional reactions fall in line with trauma as well, to name a few:
shock and disbelief, fear and/or anxiety, feelings of detachment, loss of a sense of order or
fairness in the world, etc. It may take a patient months or even years to fully overcome these
traumas and minimize his or her reactions but it can be done. Patients can try a variety of
methods at home to help them: talk about the traumatic experience with empathic listeners,
music and art, humor, commitment to something personally meaningful and important every day,
and many more (Common Responses...Coping Strategies). It is important for a patient to stick
around anything that makes him or her happy for any period of time.
In conclusion, all hope is not lost for an addict. The addict must know that there are
hundreds of options out there and there is bound to be one to help. Whether or not one goes to a
counseling service or he or she works on things at home the ultimate goal, as stated before, is to
fix the problems that lie beneath the surface. Through patience, hard work, and willpower an
addict can fix themselves and move on to live a positive healthy life.

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Works Cited
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Therapies Meet the Test." MDedge. Current Psychiatry, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.
"Drug Abuse Counselors." DrugAbuse.com. Recovery Brands, 29 Jan. 2016. Web. 10 Nov.
2016.
"How to Find Free Drug Rehab Centers & Insurance-Covered Options." American Addiction
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"How to Prepare for Rehab." The Cabin Chiang Mai. The Cabin Addiction Services Group, 25
Oct. 2016. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.
Levin, Patti. "David Baldwin's Trauma Information Pages." Common Responses to Trauma &
Coping Strategies. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.
Stein, Dr. Gerald. "What To Do When Therapy Doesnt Help." Dr Gerald Stein Blogging About
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Young, Joel L., M.D. "When Therapy Doesn't Work." Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, 20
Jan. 2015. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.