Brief Interventions for Drug Abuse Prevention
We think of drug abuse prevention as something provided to children and students yet to experiment, but drug abuse prevention can also assist those people already using; and drug abuse prevention interventions have proven very effective as a method to induce behavioral change in people currently exhibiting excessive drug or alcohol consumption behaviors, but who have not yet developed a dependency or addiction.
The earlier any intervention or treatment ensues, the better the eventual prognosis, and the less intensive the intervention needs to be. It's always better to act sooner rather than later, and drug and alcohol abuse prevention works very well when specific brief intervention strategies are used on people at risk to progress from risky use behaviors to addiction.
Drug abuse prevention…a few words from a trusted authority figure can go a long way
Once heavy or binge drug or alcohol use becomes dependency, the intensity of therapy needed increases exponentially, and some people can never seem to overcome addiction. It's far better to prevent the occurrence of an addiction, and research has shown that a brief intervention with a trusted authority figure before addiction has emerged can be a very effective way to encourage a reduction in risky use behaviors.
The intervention can be very brief and casual, and may occur only once, with a possible follow up phone call or email…basically, a very minimally disruptive treatment to drug or alcohol abuse.
A brief preventative intervention is simply a conversation with a position in authority, ideally known and trusted, about the dangers of abuse and the benefits of reducing consumption. Often resource and reading materials are given, and there should ideally be some follow up to check on progress in the weeks and months after the intervention.
Physicians, counselors, human resource personnel and others are in a unique position as known and trusted authority figures to enact behavioral change, at minimal cost and with minimal disruption.
Don't Wait!
Families can express concerns of abuse behaviors to a trusted authority figure and arrange a planned intervention, and can also ensure that a negative experience (a DUI, or intoxication induced injury) is used as a reinforcing teaching opportunity by calling for an intervention during a very acute receptive state.
Too many people exhibiting at risk behaviors never get a chance to benefit from a brief intervention, which can often be enough to change behaviors and better health. Statistics indicate that almost half of all people with alcohol disorders are never appropriately diagnosed, even though primary care medical staff must surely have suspicions of abuse. Family seems to be in a unique position to influence drug abuse prevention by arranging for a brief intervention with a trusted authority figure.
It may not work for all, but the cost benefit ratio is firmly tilted in favor of a brief intervention. There can be little harm done by counseling moderation in consumption and encouraging harm reduction. It makes no sense to wait until substance abuse becomes addiction before acting, and everyone benefits far more from early and easy brief interventions.
When Should the Intervention Occur?
Planned brief interventions often occur at the prompting of a concerned family member or friend, and these arranged meetings occur without a catalystic incident prompting their necessity. The family physician, a trusted counselor or school official may all be approached to meet with an at risk person to discuss use behaviors, to council on the dangers of exhibited behaviors, and to discuss alternative life strategies.
The opportunistic brief intervention occurs after a catalystic incident, most often occurring as a direct result of substance use behaviors. Users suffering legal difficulties or injuries stemming from substance use behaviors, and suffering the immediate consequences of their substance use, prove very captive and receptive audiences for intervention and counseling.
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