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What We Believe About Addiction
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What We Believe About Addiction
1. Most importantly, we believe that addiction is a contextual problem. The following best describes our thinking on this matter:
“Addiction develops in context - in the context of a biologic - genetic matrix that leaves individuals at risk before they know or feel their feelings, have their first thoughts, or initiate their first impulse or independent act or action; in the context of families who already are in part or whole enmeshed in addictive substances or addictive behaviors and dysfunction; and in the context of cultures and social settings, in some more so than others. But ultimately alcoholism or addiction occurs predominately in a personal context; that is, it is a person who is or has become disordered, who uses, abuses, and becomes dependent on substances” (Kaufman, 1994, p. vii).
2. In our work at The HopeQuest Ministry Group, Inc., we believe it is important to understand and realize that by God's design, individuals are born into family units. It takes a mother and a father to conceive a child. The biblically informed Judeo-Christian mindset understands and recognizes it to be God's purposeful intent that a mother and father both be involved in the raising of a child. Although we compassionately understand that there are many modern day concerns that result in single-parent households, the family unit - one that includes both a mother and a father - is the ideal setting for a child to develop. Therefore, our philosophical approach to ministry, counseling, and therapy is undergirded by the Family Systems (Systemic) Theoretical framework.
3. We believe that God's design is evident in the conception and developmental process of a baby. It is necessary for a child to physically separate from the mother at birth. In addition, there is general agreement (at least in the relevant psychological domains) that it is also necessary for a child to attain his or her own sense of individuality, including the development of a unique self-concept. Therefore, our philosophical approach to ministry, counseling, and therapy is influenced by Psychosocial Developmental Theory, Psychodynamic Theory, including Self-Psychology, Ego-Psychology Theory, Object Relations Theory, and Attachment Theory.
4. We believe that by God's design, human beings were created to have thoughts, develop opinions (or systems of thinking), and experience feelings. While it is beyond the scope of this writing to defend this conceptualization, it is possible to note that the following have impacted how we have chosen to therapeutically address these components which we believe to be significant in the context of addiction and sexual brokenness recovery.
5. We believe that the inability to tolerate negative emotion is an important factor in addictive behaviors and relapse after professional treatment. Many who struggle with addictive behaviors lack self-awareness and the ability to express their selves when under emotional stress. In addition, they may lack needed self-regulation skills regarding their emotional feelings and resulting behaviors. Learning an emotional vocabulary and developing intimate
interpersonal communication skills is necessary for the long-term success of a person’s addiction recovery journey. In addition, The HopeQuest Ministry Group, Inc. believes that it is important for clients to learn assertion skills along with the ability to confront and manage conflict.
8. We believe that the addiction is a multifaceted and complex issue. An individual struggling with addiction can experienced intense and seemingly uncontrollable cravings along with compulsions to use drugs or alcohol even though the individual knows that there may be devastating consequences as a result.
An addiction begins with the use of alcohol or drugs. Over time, a person’s neural pathways are affected and their ability to resist alcohol or drug use becomes compromised. Prolonged use can result in compulsive and consuming alcohol and drug seeking and use.
Addictive behaviors are the result of multiple brain neural pathways being modified. These pathways include, but may not be limited to the following areas of brain functioning: reward and motivation, learning and memory, and inhibitory control.
An individual may be more or less vulnerable to addiction as a result of genetic makeup, age of exposure to alcohol or drugs, environmental influences, or (most likely) some combination of these factors. Prolonged alcohol and drug use can be toxic to the body. In the context of addiction, both increase an individual's risk for physical and mental illness. Addictive behaviors also interfere with normal functioning in the family, the workplace, and the broader community.
Treatment is not simple. Effective recovery programs incorporate many components of treatment. Addiction treatment must help the individual stop using alcohol or drugs, maintain an alcohol and drug free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning abilities in the family, at work, and in society.
While we believe that everyone can learn how to achieve and maintain sobriety, we also believe that addiction is a disease. It is not possible for an addictive personality who has developed an addiction to simply stop using alcohol or drugs for a few days and be cured. Most clients require long-term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence and the ability to maintain their new recovery lifestyle.
Detoxification and ensuring physical medical stability is the important first step for an individual who is addicted to alcohol or drugs.
There is an increased risk of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, infectious disease, and increased medical complications resulting from prolonged alcohol and drug use.
Medication is an important component for some clients. In every case, individual therapy in conjunction with group therapy with some level of conjoint family therapy (includes marriage counseling) is the most effective form of treatment for alcohol or drug addictions.
Research has documented the value of continuing care in treating addiction.
There are some addicted individuals who suffer with co-occurring mental disorders, requiring medication.
The following resources have influenced our clinical work:
A. Emmelkamp & Vedel, (2006)
B. Straussner, (2004)
C. Saunders, (2007)
9. We believe that the 12-Steps are an effective guide for persons to utilize in learning to apply and maintain the recovery tools and life skills learned in the treatment program.
Short Addiction Assessment Tools
Alcohol Abuse Assessment Tool - Click Here
Substance Abuse Assessment Tool - Click Here