Addiction

Question 1

What is a drug?

Answer 1

Any substance that exerts an effect on body or mind (e.g., behavioral and mood changes, cognitive and physiological effects, altered perceptions)

Drugs are neutral, but value is judged by use and effects

Question 2

What are the levels of substance abuse?

Answer 2

1. Non-use
2. Safe use
3. Hazardous use
4. Substance use disorder: mild, moderate or severe

Question 3

What is substance use disorder?

Answer 3

Taking the substance in larger amounts, or for longer than intended - the person craves the substance strongly, and even if they wanted to cut down, they cannot manage to. They’ll use the substance even if it damages their relationships, and affects daily functioning.

Question 4

Are addictions limited to just drugs?

Answer 4

There are behavioral addictions as well, such as shopping, exercise, gambling, internet

Question 5

What are the explanatory models of addiction?

Answer 5

1. Disease/medical/biological explanations
2. Social explanations
3. Psychological explanations (choice, learning, tension reduction, personality differences)

Question 6

Describe choice theory.

Answer 6

People have a limited range of options, and so choose drugs because they don’t have a better option to cope with stress

Question 7

Describe learning theories.

Answer 7

People learn the benefits to the drugs as well as the costs, and so use them

Question 8

What is tension reduction theory?

Answer 8

Some people live with extreme experiences of trauma, and substance use helps with coping

Question 9

How does personality differences explain substance abuse?

Answer 9

People are more interested in risk-taking than others

Question 10

What are some social and cultural factors explaining substance abuse?

Answer 10

The drugs may be more readily available in some cultures than others, and societal attitudes can be different

You can’t intervene and assist someone to reduce substance abuse without thiking about how to support them in their trauma?

Question 11

Describe the method of motivational interviewing

Answer 11

It involves enhancing a patient’s motivation to change through their own resolution - it ties to choice and learning theory by giving people a greater range of strategies to help them cope with trauma

Question 12

What are the principles of motivational interviewing?

Answer 12

RULE

R - resist righting reflec
U - understand patient’s motivations
L - listen with empathy
E - empower the patient

We want to see an increase in self-efficacy

Question 13

What is the spirit of motivational interviewing?

Answer 13

Working with the patient and raising their potential for difference while honoring where the person is at; you can’t have the attitude of “saving” the person, but must settle for being the “journeyman” with them

Question 14

What are the basic skills of MI?

Answer 14

OARS

O - open ended questions
A - affirmation
R - reflecting
S - summarizing

Question 15

What are the stages of change?

Answer 15

1. Pre-contemplation - patient is in denial
2. Contemplation - people are aware of benefits, but no commitment
3. Preparation - person is making small steps toward change
4. Action - people choose recovery
5. Relapse - normal
6. Maintenance - people are assured they can continue their change
7. Relapse - normal