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About Substance Abuse
Welcome to the Connections &
Care counseling program. In this module, you will find new ideas, learning activities, and handouts to use when talking with your clients about
substance abuse. Because there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach
to meeting the education and support needs of people with
schizophrenia, flexibility is the hallmark of this
program. These materials can be used over a period of time
to explore the topic in depth.
Overview
By participating in this session, clients will:
- Understand the impact of substance abuse (alcohol and street
drugs) on their recovery process
- Identify personal triggers for substance use
- Make a plan to avoid substance abuse as part of their overall
recovery process
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Tips for facilitating
this module
Emphasize the importance of avoiding
substance abuse as part of the recovery process
Your clients are probably accustomed to hearing that they should
"just say no" to using substances such as alcohol and street drugs.
What they may have heard less about is why - and the "why" has
everything to do with their recovery. Researchers at the University
of California, Los Angeles Neuropsychiatric Institute have
identified 10 factors that are key to recovery from schizophrenia.
Avoiding substance use was the second factor named. Your clients
with schizophrenia are at even more risk than the general
population for developing complications associated with substance
abuse.
Point out that substance avoidance can
be part of the plan
Clients may be exposed to triggers for substance use on a daily
basis. Let clients know that they need not face these temptations
alone. Identifying substance use triggers and avoiding them is a
process of steps that clients can plan and practice.
Offer hope in the event of
substance-abuse relapses
 Even when clients are making their best efforts,
substance- abuse relapses do happen. Clients need to know that
relapses do not mean that all is lost. They can return to
recovery. |
Using the
materials
The materials are designed to be flexible. Here are suggestions
for using them:
- Review the learning activities and handouts as you plan your
session
- Choose the activities, discussion questions, and/or handouts
that are appropriate for your clients’ needs, interests, and
abilities
- Use the handouts in ways that match your clients’
abilities. For example, use them for discussion ideas, read aloud
as a group before completing, hand to clients to complete, or
assign as homework
- Revisit the learning activities and handouts as often as needed
to cover the topic
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Icons
Look for these icons to help you choose activities to use with
your clients during individual or group sessions.
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Discussion
starters - Ask questions to introduce and spark your
clients’ interests in a topic. |
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Brainstorming -
Ask your clients to suggest possible solutions to a problem or a
situation. |
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Debate - Ask
your clients to engage in a debate, which helps them see all sides
of an issue. |
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Journal writing - Encourage your clients to write down their thoughts in a
journal. |
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Creative
expression - Invite your clients to explore and express
thoughts and feelings through art. |
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Icebreaker -
Ask clients for verbal responses to a topic question to help them
feel comfortable with sharing. |
| DEFINITIONS used in this module |
Substance - Alcohol,
street drugs, prescription medications, over-the-counter
medications, and other substances that people take for recreational
purposes to get high or relaxed. Throughout this module, alcohol
and/or street drugs will be used to represent this term
Substance abuse - A maladaptive pattern of use of a
substance (such as alcohol or street drugs) for 1 year or more that
causes problems in at least 1 area of function (social,
interpersonal, work, family, medical, or legal). Clients may make
poor choices about substance use, but they may still have some
level of control over those choices
Substance dependence - A maladaptive pattern of use of a
substance for 1 year or more that causes 3 or more of the
following: tolerance, withdrawal, use of more than planned or for
longer than intended, desire to cut down, large amount of time
spent obtaining and using substances and recovering from use,
reduction of other activities in order to use, and use despite
problems (social, interpersonal, work, family, medical, or legal).
This is a more serious disorder in which clients lose the ability
to control their substance use and experience powerful urges to
seek intoxication despite a history of negative consequences
Addiction - When a person is physically or psychologically
dependent on a substance to the point where they can no longer
control their use of it
Abstinence - When a person does not use substances at
all
Clean and sober - Refers to no longer using street drugs or
alcohol. Clean refers to no longer using street drugs. Sober refers
to no longer drinking alcohol
Recovery (related to substance abuse) - When a person does
not use substances and is participating in life activities that are
meaningful and satisfying
Recovery (related to mental health) - When a person is able
to participate in meaningful and fulfilling life activities despite
symptoms of a mental illness |
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