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Support Groups in Drug Treatment
Back to the document's frontpageSupport groups in a drug treatment generally concentrate on the emotional and cognitive support needed for day to day living and overcoming the initial very challenging period of recovery.
A Safe Place to Share and Learn
Support groups are run by a trained group leader, and this person will focus discussion onto appropriate topics, and ensure that all members of the group participate and benefit from the experience. Therapy and advice will not generally come from this group leader, but rather from other members of the support group through shared advice and discussion.
The leader will model appropriate forms of interaction, and ensure that the discussion remains constructive and encouraging. The support group is designed to lessen the experienced anxiety associated with a transition into sobriety and encourage open sharing by all members of the group; and although confrontation is allowed, it must be constructive and respectful.
The support group in drug treatment gives recovering addicts a very safe place to share and learn with other fellow addicts, it encourages constructive social interaction, and can reduce feelings of loneliness or social isolation. Constructive coping strategies learned from other group members increase cognitive tools available for the fight against temptation.
