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The Pros Know Best
When it comes to treating addiction, it’s not a do-it-yourself operation.
When it comes to treating addiction, it’s not a do-it-yourself operation.
When you discover that a family member or loved one is struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, it’s a natural instinct to immediately try to help them yourself. That’s a completely understandable inclination – but it’s also a dangerous one. Drug Treatment for chemical dependency is complex and those who do it right follow a detailed protocol aimed at evaluating and tracking a variety of factors. The initial assessment process alone, as laid out by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA), includes the following 12 important steps:
1. Engage the client
2. Identify and contact collaterals (this includes family, friends, etc.) to gather additional information
3. Screen for and detect co-occurring disorders that contribute to addiction
4. Determine quadrant and locus of responsibility
5. Determine level of care
6. Determine diagnosis
7. Determine disability and functional impairment
8. Identify strengths and supports
9. Identify cultural and linguistic needs and supports
10. Identify problem domains
11. Determine stage of change
12. Plan treatment
If the above list leaves you feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. As a loved one of someone with a substance abuse problem, you definitely have a role in their treatment, but you shouldn’t be the primary caregiver. You wouldn’t try to treat a loved one with cancer. Instead, you’d leave it to the doctors who are trained in that area. Don’t take chances when it comes to addiction either.
Addiction Rehab
For the professional help your loved one needs and deserves, contact The Canyon toll free at 877.714.1319 24 hours a day.
