LEARN MORE, PRACTICE DIFFERENTLY, AND FEEL CONFIDENT WORKING WITH CLIENTS BY JOINING US FOR A SEMINAR ON, “NEW STRATEGIES FOR SUBSTANCE USE ASSESSMENT,” ON FEBRUARY 20, 2019, 9:30AM – 4:30PM
“Things have been feeling different with Raj. Communication is much more clear, as he has been talking more to us, and we feel we have been making a difference in his life.” Edward, also a clinician on the Hope ACT team, articulated these words to Rodis, the consultant, who has been meeting with Maryann regarding New Strategies to working with Individuals with Substance Use Disorder. “Thank you for joining us, Ed; it is good to hear about the great work you have started with Raj. Let us give you a summary of what Maryann and I have been discussing so far.”
In the two previous articles entitled, New Strategies to Working with Individuals with Substance Use Disorder: 5 Benefits; and “Addiction”: How to Work with Individuals with Substance Use Disorder: 5 Additional Benefits, I outlined a total of ten benefits why it is crucial to learn and implement the New Strategies to working with individuals with substance use disorder. To set the tone and provide context, I have summarized these ten benefits:
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Better care for our patients and clients
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Better use of our countertransference and biases for the benefits of our patients and clients
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Promotion of integrated substance use treatment and mental health care
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Improvement of our advocacy skills on behalf of patients and clients affected by substance use disorders
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Provide better education and the tools to decrease stigma against substance use disorders
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To enhance communication
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To enhance clinical outcomes
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To decrease waste in healthcare
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To halt the cycle of fragmented care
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Educated expectations
“Regarding everything you are learning, it is now time for the Hope ACT team to move to the next step of implementing the new strategies.” Rodis updated Edward to the-same-page currency with Maryann and the rest of the team. Let us go on this journey together.
Below are five questions to ask the next time you meet with your patients and clients with substance use disorder to effectively serve them:
Pattern of use
Pattern of use varies depending on the individual and his or her environment, and asking about it provides us with
Triggers to use
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help them reflect and better understand what it usually takes to engage in substance use;
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identify what may need to be addressed to increase the likelihood of obtaining and maintaining sobriety; and
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aid in preventing relapse.
Sometimes your patients and clients may find it challenging to pinpoint some of the triggers, but you can better help them by your patience, prompting, and skills with the New Strategies to Working with Individuals with Substance Use Disorder .
Management of cravings
Managing cravings starts with self-awareness. Ask your patients and clients how much they are aware of their
Explanatory model of use
Asking your patients and clients for their own explanatory model of substance use helps them to lower their guard to demonstrate trust. This process is intended to gather their input from the very beginning, in order to collaboratively help move things forward with them. “I’ve gone through a lot. I saw my mom being raped and killed in front of me, and I could not save her. I have always hated myself for that and when those pictures come back in my head, I just cannot take it.” Whether the explanatory model for your patient or client aligns with yours or not, you will have something to work with, something that he or she agrees to. And that alone is a powerful step towards change.
Escalating factors
The answers to the previous four questions will often contain some hints for the response to the questions related to
As you take your time and ask these questions of your patients and clients, several themes will emerge. In Raj’s case, for example, loss, relationship issues, guilt, and a poor sense of self have been some of the repeating messages. He said it using his own words and terms, something far more powerful than if you or I were to interject, regardless of how eloquent.
And so, it went, five questions to ask to better serve your patients and clients with substance use disorder. Next time you meet with your patient or client, ask about:
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Patterns of use
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Triggers to use
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Management of cravings
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Explanatory model of use
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Escalating factors
And you will be able to say like Maryann and Edward, “Things have been feeling different with Raj…we feel we have been making a difference in his life.” You also will avoid falling into the trap of unknowingly and unintentionally failing to provide the right care for your patients or clients with substance use disorder.
LEARN MORE, PRACTICE DIFFERENTLY, AND FEEL CONFIDENT WORKING WITH CLIENTS BY JOINING US FOR A SEMINAR ON, “NEW STRATEGIES FOR SUBSTANCE USE ASSESSMENT,” ON FEBRUARY 20, 2019, 9:30AM – 4:30PM
References:
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Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).
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EMCDDA, A gender perspective on drug use and responding to drug problems, Lisbon, 2006.
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National Drug Intelligence Center, United States Department of Justice, National Drug Threat Assessment 2010, February 2010.
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National Institute on Drug Abuse, Monitoring the Future, Overview of Key Findings in 2009, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, 2010.
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Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, Drug use among Ontario students, 1977 – 2009, 2009.
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UNODC and CICAD, First Comparative Study on Drug Use and Associated Factors in the General Population aged 15-64, April 2008.
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EMCDDA, Statistical Bulletin 2009 and Hibell, et al, ESPAD Surveys 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007.