It is well known that drug addiction is a disease that can be and should be treated. This is a complex and comprehensive treatment, including improvement in human health and physical and mental well-being. So if a problem is psychological then in order to get rid of the substance abuse a person should accept this problem, start to talk about it and change an opinion about it. This person needs help from other people, because to deal with it on one’s own is very difficult. There, the aid of self-help groups comes. Self-help group is a method of treatment, which is used in combination with other therapies, but by itself, plays a very important role in treating people of substance abuse because the treatment shows every member of the group the possibility of success, allows to get support and understanding, and develops in the members of the group the positive thinking and outlook on life.
The first and the most important aim of self-help groups is to make a passive, dependent patient an active participant in improving his or her own condition and to develop a more positive way of thinking and behaving, as well as to eliminate the reasons for abuse ("Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration", 2009, p. 29). Obviously, in this regard, the role of these self-help groups is enormous. First, such groups teach to recognize and prevent negative thoughts and actions. As substance use is a consequence of negative thinking and behavior, consequently, the elimination of this cause makes group treatment extremely useful. These groups help to identify specific situations and thoughts that lead to the use of hazardous substances. People learn to avoid such situations, thus gradually getting rid of their addiction. In addition, group meetings inspire people to have positive thoughts and make positive actions, which also helps the patient to abstain from harmful substances. In general, the role of self-help groups is to motivate patients to continue treatment and avoid relapses ("Treatments for Substance Use Disorders", 2015). Moreover, self-help group plays an important role as an assistant and a support for the person who finds it difficult to cope with his or her addiction. After all, everyone who visits this group has the same problems and can support each other. Each member of the group individually provides a positive role model that inspires addicts to change their lives. Members of the group may think that if people cope with the problem, every member will be able to overcome it too (Tosh, & del Vecchio, 2000, p. 6).
In general, self-help groups operate on the principle of "strength in numbers" (Tosh, & del Vecchio, 2000, p. 6) and on the gradual change in the way of thinking and behaving of the patient. Members of the group share their experiences, their thoughts and information, thereby helping each other to understand that everyone of them is not alone and that there are people who also faced the addiction (Tosh, & del Vecchio, 2000, p. 6). At the beginning, people in the self-help groups make a plan and follow it gradually and successfully, moving forward to recovery ("Treatments for Substance Use Disorders", 2015). In addition, in the process of self-help the patients receive information not only from the members of the group, but also from speakers, who are often invited to meetings of the group. An example of the treatment process may be one of the most popular programs, which is based on the 12 steps. For instance, firstly a patient admits his helplessness against the addiction, then accepts the fact that someone powerful can help him to cope with the addiction, and after that the patient decides to follow this power, which will assist him or her in becoming a healthier person (Abt Associates, 2010). Thus, the treatment process in the self-help groups is based on the recognition of the problems and of the need in getting help. It also includes mutual communication and the help from group members, who exchange personal information and experience.
Summing up, self-help groups play a significant role in the treatment of substance abuse because it involves a patient into the process of treatment, it makes the patient an active participant in his or her recovery. These groups are important because of the fact that patients are able to communicate with people, who have the same problems, in order to support each other and to see that everyone can deal with the addiction. Accordingly, the functioning process of these groups is based on the development of a plan to get rid of the addiction, which includes several stages of treatment. It is a development of positive thinking, the struggle with negative thoughts and behaviors and the process of learning how to avoid situations that lead to the use of alcohol or drugs. The main strength of this treatment is in the fact that it is a group where people can support and sympathize with each other. A group of people suffering from the addiction shows each member that he or she is not alone. And it is the loneliness that often leads to problems with substance abuse. Consequently, self-help groups are extremely useful in the treatment of substance abuse, as they help to eradicate the most important cause of the disease – psychological problems. That is why self-help groups play the most important role in the treatment of substance abuse, and they should certainly be used for any patient with such problems.
References
Abt Associates,. (2010). Pathways to Healing and Recovery: Perspectives from Individuals with Histories of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved 5 July 2016 from http://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/recovery_pathways_report.pdf
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, (2009). Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders: Building Your Program.. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 5 July 2016, http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA08-4367/BuildingYourProgram-ITC.pdf
Tosh, V. & del Vecchio, P. (2000). Consumer Operated Self-Help Programs: A Technical Report. Rockville, MD.: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved 5 July 2016 from http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA01-3510/SMA01-3510.pdf
Treatments for Substance Use Disorders. (2015). Samhsa.gov. Retrieved 5 July 2016, from http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment/substance-use-disorders
