15 Sep What Kind of Support Can You Get From a Substance Abuse Counselor?

Dealing with drug addiction is never easy, especially if you don’t know how to get the help you need to get clean and sober and stay that way. Without help, the potential to relapse and keep using is very high. Luckily, you can go through a treatment program. You will have access to individuals specially trained to deal with the struggles of addiction and help you develop the skills and tools you need to prevent relapse and recover in the long term.

Substance abuse counselors understand the very nature of addiction and how it affects a person’s life. They are specifically equipped to help people dealing with addiction learn how to cope with the problem. They are more than just a normal counselor, though. A person dealing with addiction can get several kinds of support from them.

What is substance abuse?

It is important to understand what substance abuse is and how it works to understand the role that a substance abuse counselor plays in getting and staying sober.

Substance abuse, more accurately known as substance use disorder, is a mental health disorder characterized by a person’s lack of control to stop using a substance, in this case, drugs, despite negative consequences to self, others, and society. Substance abuse can come in a wide range of forms, from abusing prescription medications to taking illicit drugs to abuse everyday common household substances to achieve a “high.”

The long-term effects of substance abuse are different depending on the drug that someone is abusing. Still, many common effects of substances include health complications resulting from drug abuse.

Mental disorders that coincide with or are caused by substance abuse, strained relationships, inability to form meaningful relationships with people, and financial and legal difficulties result from deviant drug-seeking behavior or loss of ability to work and handle day-to-day responsibilities.

What is a substance abuse counselor?

Substance abuse counselors play a large role in the treatment of addiction and the recovery process. A substance abuse counselor is a person who is specially trained to help those dealing with drug and alcohol addiction.

A substance abuse counselor is one of the few people who are likely to be involved throughout the recovery process. They not only handle the management of individual cases, but they provide recommendations for treatment and support, as well as provide counseling themselves.

You could likely consider a substance abuse counselor as your primary care provider while in addiction treatment. Substance abuse counselors work in various places such as schools, medical facilities, detox centers, and, most notably, addiction treatment clinics.

Because of the nature of addiction, their role shifts to suit the needs of the person they serve. That’s why they are a person’s most valuable resource in the recovery process.

What does a substance abuse counselor do?

Defining the role of a substance abuse counselor is not easy. One way to think of what a substance abuse counselor does is to say that they facilitate the treatment process for those struggling with drug addiction.

This can mean many things but typically involves dealing with patients in some capacity and chronicling data involving their treatment, including things like relapse episodes, triggers, social interactions, and other data.

They also play an active role in the treatment process, often performing assessments of people with addictions so that they can determine the type and level of treatment that is best for them. This is crucial because each case of addiction is different and getting the proper treatment is key.

For instance, someone with an addiction who also has a co-occurring mental disorder will need specialized treatment to deal with both issues to properly recover.

You will find that substance use counselors also provide therapy in both individual and group settings. This helps them to provide more personalized care.

What type of support can you get from a substance abuse counselor?

There are several ways that a substance abuse counselor can support recovery from addiction.

One of the primary ways that a counselor offers support is in the area of relapse prevention. Relapse prevention is a treatment that focuses on finding ways to deal with triggers that may cause a person to relapse. This can involve therapy, support groups, and other resources that help a person develop tools to cope with a life without drugs and alcohol.

One of the reasons that people are likely to relapse is because something in their day-to-day environment pushes them to want to use again.

Without the proper help and support, it is incredibly easy for a person to start using again. Many people have this happen multiple times if they don’t have the support of a counselor and treatment program. Another way a substance abuse counselor can support a person is by having access to programs and resources once treatment ends. Many treatment programs offer what are called aftercare programs. These Programs connect those in recovery with support groups, 12-step programs, family support, sober living, and more to help facilitate a smooth transition from treatment to a normal life. A substance abuse counselor can help facilitate this process and provide direction and guidance during the transition.

Lastly, your substance abuse counselor is responsible for keeping records of your recovery process. This means that they are intimately familiar with the nature of your specific addiction, the treatment received, and the progress a person has made. This is important for determining what type of assistance a person needs and whether they face any specific issues that need further help and support. Sometimes one form of treatment may not work completely the way another one would.