Drug addiction is one of the most serious issues in the modern American society. Numerous approaches have been used to address the problem. It is possible to note that positive coping strategies can be beneficial for drug abusers, their families and the entire society (Connors, DiClemente, Velasquez, & Donovan, 2012). Different positive coping interventions have been developed, and they all show very good results. This paper outlines major peculiarities of an effective intervention aimed at helping people suffering from addiction.
The hypothesis can be formulated as follows: positive coping intervention techniques will aid in the recovery of individuals suffering from drug addiction. The intervention in question is based on the three domains that are referred to as “the pleasant life”, “the engaged life” and “the meaningful life” (as cited in Krentzman, 2013, p. 157). The intervention involves group and individual sessions aimed at enhancing the participants’ positive coping skills. The first type of sessions aims at making the participants aware of the fact that drugs are a shortcut to pleasant life, but it is a wrongful way leading nowhere. This section of the intervention also involves the development of skills and knowledge about individuals’ strengths that can be used to achieve pleasant life through making effort instead of using drugs (Krentzman, 2013). This stage involves assignments and tasks that help people address various stressful situations based on their psychological types (Dennhardt & Murphy, 2013).
The second stage can have manifold outcomes at different levels. Apart from helping individuals, they are aimed at engaging the community. The section associated with the domain of the engaged life involves the development of skills the participants will use to become more active in their social life (Krentzman, 2013). Besides, the community is involved. It has been acknowledged that the support of others (especially family members) is essential (Orford, Velleman, Natera, Templeton, & Copello, 2013). However, the participation of people from the neighborhood is also beneficial (Krentzman, 2013). People are encouraged to participate in sessions and various activities. In this way, the community becomes less biased and more involved. People do not stigmatize drug abusers but try to help them. Importantly, they have skills to do it effectively. The interaction between drug abusers and the rest of the community creates the platform for the supportive environment, in which people will be able to live without drugs.
Finally, the third domain can be regarded as central. This part of the intervention aims at helping the participants to set life goals and develop skills to achieve them (Krentzman, 2013). Drug addicts often have no purpose in life but seek pleasure (Lewis, Dana, & Blevins, 2014). However, when they set their major goal (or even a smaller short-term objective), these individuals often quit using drugs as they are focused on achieving something they have in mind.
Clearly, this intervention is beneficial for the participants’ life. Drug abusers can get rid of their harmful habit. Moreover, they will develop skills that will enable them to succeed in life. They will have a positive attitude, they will be goal-oriented, they will have the necessary support to achieve their goals. Of course, the intervention will also increase the aspect of positive psychology. New evidence proving the effectiveness of the approach will be found. New methods and strategies can be developed and considered by peers.
References
Connors, G. J., DiClemente, C. C., Velasquez, M. M., & Donovan, D. M. (2012). Substance abuse treatment and the stages of change: Selecting and Planning. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Dennhardt, A., & Murphy, J.G. (2013). Prevention and treatment of college student drug use: A review of the literature. Addictive Behaviors, 38(10), 2607-2618.
Krentzman, A. R. (2013). Review of the application of positive psychology to substance use, addiction, and recovery research. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27(1), 151-165.
Lewis, J.A., Dana, R., & Blevins, G.A. (2014). Substance abuse counseling. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
Orford, J., Velleman, R., Natera, G., Templeton, L., & Copello, A. (2013). Addiction in the family is a major but neglected contributor to the global burden of adult ill-health. Social Science & Medicine, 78, 70-77.