Involving families in treatment and rehabilitation of substance abusers

INVOLVING FAMILIES IN TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSERS

Abdullah Baniyameen
September 3, 2009
baniyameen@yahoo.com

INTRODUCTION:
Ø A systematic planning of rehabilitation process will normally include the family participation as a component of its program, but are normally the least involved in the actual implementation.
Ø The family can be the causative as well therapeutic factors in the rehabilitation process of recovering drug abusers.

LESSON LEARNT:
Ø In pursuit of a system to undertake the total rehabilitation of drug addictions, many variables have to be taken into consideration.
Ø Support in the recovery process is vital, as there is the tendency for society to attach a stigma on the recovering addicts. If we fail to prepare the family with healthy ways of interacting, it will affect the whole integrative phenomena of the rehabilitative process.

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT:
Ø The family should get involved in the rehabilitation process from the beginning.
Ø Family involvement is essential, as they have vast potential for the benefit of the individual growth and change. It can be considered as an important tool in achieving lasting effect in the rehabilitation process.

ROLE OF FAMILY:
Ø Some of the factors that lead to relapse revolve around the recovering addicts’ failure to readjust to his / her family and the family failure to understand the problem of drug addiction.
Ø Roles of family are not well defined and conflicting, and the sense of closeness and understanding among family members are lacking.

FORMATION OF FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
STAGE 1:
Ø Covers a period of 2 months so as to build rapport with the family members during the visiting days. The rehabilitation requirement is explain to the family.
Family Orientation.
Family Counseling.
During the initial stage, a committee composed of parents and other family members welcome the new members into getting to know the existence of a support group.
FSG Family Bridging.
STAGE 2:
Ø At stage 2, initial orientations to be held regularly so as to familiarize the family with the aims and objective of forming the FSG.
Activities / events evolving the FSG
Elementary overview on the program modality, technique and approach.
The family will meet regularly and the session is to be facilitated by a staff. This will covers a period of 3 to 4 months.
Family Seminar.
Family Group Discussion.
STAGE 3:
Ø Regular workshop could be held during the 3rd stage that covers another period of 6 months. The workshop session are being held to orient the members the basic counseling skills, to discuss and also find solution to daily problems that they encountered during the interactive process.
Family Intervention Skills.
Role of codependency.
Family members should be helped to identify themselves and encourage to make changes.

CONCLUSION:
Ø IN CONCLUSION, IT IS ONLY APPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE A BRIEF UNDERSTANDING OF THE FAMILY INVOLVEMENT. WHEN A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY IS AN ADDICT OR EX – DRUG ADDICT. ALL FAMILY MEMBERS ARE AFFECTED IN VARIOUS TRAUMATIC REGRESSES.
Ø THE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS / SPOUSE IN ALL ASPECTS OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE RECOVERING DRUG ADDICTS’ SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT.
Ø THIS WILL NO DOUBT CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS ACHIEVING A WHOLE PERSON RECOVERY. WE CAN BE PROUD TO BE PART RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SUCCESS. IT WILL BE A TREMENDOUS BOOST NOT ONLY TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT ONE’S SELF ACCOMPLISHMENT.

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