Substance Use & Addiction

Substance Use Disorder exists on a scale, much like Major Depressive Disorder.  The scale consists of different levels (Mild, Moderate, and Severe) Use Disorders.  The main determining factor for severity is the level of negative impact or disabling evidence in the person’s life.  Some goals of treatment for a substance use disorder are to strengthen the person’s self-concept, acknowledge the impairments, take ownership of high-risk behaviors, and aid in relapse prevention.  Many times, other supportive services such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, Al-Anon, Celebrate Recovery and others are helpful to aid in this process.  Individual counseling can aid in increasing motivation for change, identifying and coping with stress, contingency management, and targeting interpersonal problems that led to increased use.

Two of the specific recommended treatment methods for substance use disorders are cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy.