Bhsh 455 - Outline of Treatment Approaches

Outline of Treatment Approaches

Iris Lynch, Rayvin McCoy, Carmina Montes, Maria Pimentel

BHSH/455

September 12, 2016

Rebecca Kirkham

Outline of Treatment Approaches

Introduction

        There are people all over the world suffering from substance abuse and disease. This disease can ruin the individuals’ life, their families, and even their community. Thankful many of those suffering from this ailment seek out help and begin their road to recovery. There is much to consider. Since addiction has, the ability to disturb the brain and how it functions. Especially, in the areas that control and motivation, memory and behavior of a person while abusing substances. There are certain treatment approaches used to help combat this disease. Since, each person and population have their own identity it is necessary to know which treatment option will be best suitable for the situation of the patient. That is why research and investigating must be done to ensure someone on the road to recovery has taken the right path. Meaning they have weighed their option and chose a treatment plan right for them.

Therapeutic Communities

          A Therapeutic community is a treatment approach that allow the residents to hold each other accountable for behaviors that are not conducive to the recovery process.  This treatment approach addresses the disease of addiction and the maladaptive behaviors that coincide with the disease.  This approach is usually accompanied with a form of cognitive behavioral therapy.  Therapeutic communities have been found to be effective with individuals who are incarcerated. This is possible because the prison-based therapeutic community, with its commitment to a radically different culture and mode of rehabilitation, socially enables, produces and reinforces the emergence of someone different (Stevens (2012).

  In the state of Texas an individual that commit a non-violent crime with a substance use disorder will have the opportunity to complete their prison term in a Therapeutic community or SAFP (Substance Abuse Felony Punishment).  The inmates are introduced to a structure that is similar to a family.  There is a hierarchy and the inmates move up the ranks according to behavior changes.  If an inmate is accused of disobeying a rule.  He or she will be addressed by their peers with staff facilitation in a reality or a confrontation group.  The inmate will correct the negative behavior by identifying their thinking errors, exploring the effect of their behavior on the community and by stating a coping mechanism that will prevent a reoccurrence of the behavior and how it could lead to relapse.