The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction from the National Institute on Drug Abuse Archives of the National Institute on Drug Abuse web site
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An Individual Drug Counseling Approach to Treat Cocaine Addiction
Chapter 6 - The Individual Drug Counseling Model
Goals and Objectives of Individual Drug Counseling
Addiction counseling addresses (1) the symptoms of the drug addiction and areas of impaired functioning that are related to it and (2) the content and structure of the patient's ongoing recovery program. Throughout the course of counseling, the addiction counselor will:
1.Help the patient to admit that he or she suffers from the disease of chemical addiction.
2.Point out the signs and symptoms of addiction that are relevant to the patient's experience.
3.Teach the addict to recognize and rechannel urges to use drugs.
4.Encourage and motivate the patient to achieve and sustain abstinence.
5.Monitor and encourage abstinence by using objective measures, such as urinalysis and Breathalyzer® tests.
6.Hold the chemically addicted person accountable for and discuss any episodes of use and strongly discourage further use.
7.Assist the patient in identifying situations where drugs were used to cope with life's problems and in understanding that using drugs to cope with or solve problems does not work.
8.Help the addict to develop new, more effective problem-solving strategies.
9.Introduce the patient to the 12-step philosophy and strongly encourage participation in NA, AA, and/or CA.
10.Encourage the chemically addicted person to develop and continue with a recovery plan as a lifelong process.
11.Help the addict to recognize and change problematic attitudes and behaviors that may stimulate a relapse.
12.Encourage the patient to improve self-esteem by practicing newly acquired coping skills and problem-solving strategies at home and in...