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Alcohol and Other Drugs Prevention and Intervention

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Prevention Most efforts directed at young people Rates of alcohol and tobacco use are very high in this group National Drug-free policies dont include alcohol and tobacco, widely considered gateway drugs Related to politics not best practice

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Prevention Harm Reduction: when it is assumed that SA cannot be eliminated Types: Needle exchange Sobriety check points Designated drivers Tobacco Stings

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Prevention Supply Vs. Demand 1.7 Billion for war on drugs in 87 1.2 was for supply reduction 1990 committee revealed little evidence that supply reduction worked 1997 67% for supply reduction, 33% divided between prevention,Tx, research

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Prevention Legalization Extremely controversial Which drugs, how much, for who, where? Legalization vs. decriminalization Some drugs are legal (ETOH, Nicotine, RX drugs) Making drugs legal and unrestricted as opposed to removing penalties for certain drug related offenses

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Prevention Public Health Model (PHM) Focus on epidemiology SA is conceptualized as an interaction between host (the substance abuser), the agent ( the substance used), and the environment Prevention activities are conceptualized as primary, secondary and tertiary

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Prevention Primary Prevention Attempts to dissuade individuals from initiating use Secondary Prevention Early intervention, designed to halt progression in individuals identified as users Tertiary Prevention Treatment aimed at substance abusers and substance dependent

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Prevention Prevention Efforts Universal Directed at entire population (national media campaign) Selected targeted at risk groups (ACOAs) Indicated Similar to secondary prevention

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Prevention Prevention Strategies Information dissemination Education Alternatives Problem identification and referral Community based processes Environmental approaches

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Prevention Few of these prevention strategies have been proven to impact SA Environmental approaches (deterrence laws, sobriety checkpoints, bartender training) have proven effectiveness. Usually rely on community coalitions to implement these strategies Education works up to three years

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Intervention Why is intervening with SA so challenging? Denial- a psychological defense, response to assault on ego integrity Fear- of abandoning a relationship that, while harmful, is at least familiar. The addict may be immobilized by fear of life without drugs

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Intervention Intervention (according to Anderson) is the process of stopping someone who is experiencing the harmful effects of AOD Johnson Intervention- Based on the disease model asserts that forcefulness is needed to counter the almost impenetrable defenses of the victimswhich are organized into highly efficient denial systems.

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Intervention Johnson Intervention It is a myth that alcoholics have some spontaneous insight and then seek treatment. Victims of this disease do not submit to treatment out of spontaneous insight-typically, in our experience they come to their recognition...through a buildup of crises that crash through their almost impenetrable defense systems. They are forced to seek help; and when they dont, they perish miserably.

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Intervention Johnson Intervention Raise the bottom Serves to precipitate a crisis that is not life threatening or seriously damaging Presents reality in opposition to denial Objective, unequivocal and caring Attacks defenses, not the victim

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Intervention Johnson Intervention Process 2 or more people Sometimes not the closest people Be prepared for client refusal Rehearse Get professional help Have options arranged!!! Emotionally charged!!!

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Intervention Effectiveness of Coercive Treatment Has a higher cure rate (Matuschka,85) 97% of the time successful (Royce, 89) 50% of the time successful (authors)

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Intervention Motivational Interviewing (William Miller and Stephen Rollinick) is a process for assessing a clients readiness to change and it uses procedures based on this readiness to enhance the probability of change. In Motivational Interviewing it is acknowledged that the client may not be ready to benefit from a direct attack on his or her use of AOD.

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Intervention Motivational Interviewing (MI) Confrontational strategies are not supported by outcome studies. No persuasive evidence that aggressive tactics are even helpful let alone superior. Understandable and predictable reactions and resistance to change cause many counselors to jump to the conclusion that clients are in denial. This stance elicits further resistance and denial.

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Intervention Stages of Change (Prochaska and DiClemente) Precontemplation Contemplation Determination Action Maintenance Relapse

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Intervention Stage 1 or 2-contraindicated for use of aggressive interventions as clients may react with increased resistance Stage 3 or 4-appropriate for aggressive intervention as client is in a position to react positively Stage 5 or 6- MHP focus on creating an environment where client can safely discuss difficulties with behavior change

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Intervention MHP should recognize that the stages of change exist on a continuum and that clients may cycle through them several times Working through ambivalence- Create an environment of empathy, respect, warmth, concreteness, congruence, genuineness, and authenticity

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Intervention Traps to Avoid Confrontation- can result in a yes you are no Im not struggle Question answer trap- avoid closed ended questions Expert trap- MHP takes role of expert, client avoids having to make choices Labeling- client may resist diagnosis Premature focus- focus on AOD before client is ready Blaming-client feels blamed by MHP

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Intervention Strategies for Resolving Ambivalence Open ended questions reflective listening affirming supportive statements summarization

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Intervention The elicitation of self-motivational statements is the guiding strategy to help clients resolve their ambivalence. In MI it is the client who presents argument for change. It is the counselors task to facilitate the clients expression of these self-motivational statements.

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Intervention Self-motivational Statements Client describes the pros and cons of SA Asking client what worries you about SA How has SA been a problem for you? Paradoxical Techniques MHP argues for continued use while client argues against

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Intervention Rolling with Resistance Ambivalence does not disappear but diminishes Assumption is that client resistance is a therapist problem Change in resistance is significantly impacted by therapist attitudes Categories of resistance Arguing, interrupting, denying, ignoring

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Intervention Rolling with Resistance Techniques for reducing resistance Amplified or double sided reflections Shifting the focus (redirection) Emphasize personal control and choice Have client explain the consequences of his or her continued SA Re-framing Assist the client in viewing the problem from a different perspective

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Intervention Transition From Resistance to Change MHP will be aware of transition when client Reduces questions about the problem Seems more calm and settled Makes more self-motivational statements Asks more questions about change Talks about life after change Experiments with change

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Intervention If the client progresses to the action stage the emphasis should be on Setting goals considering options to achieve goals deciding on a plan staying aware of issues that indicate a return to an earlier stage of change