It has long been established that drug addiction can damage a person’s brain and sometimes permanently. However, what is not always understood is how this translates, or more specifically, how it affects the individuals ability to use his mind. This makes cognitive treatment of drug addiction just as important as physical treatment. What is cognitive treatment? It is taking care of that which has been altered or affected psychologically.
What drug addiction does is cause a person to no longer think rationally.
What drug addiction does is cause a person to no longer think rationally. Common sense goes out the window. Emotional feelings and responses are often irrational or go so far overboard as to mimic personality disorder problems.
When on drugs, people often react much like a selfish child; wanting more, and more, and more. This gives them mixed signals, and before they realize it, he or she can become addicted to a prescription, to alcohol, or even illicit drugs that originally were only meant to be tried once or twice.
It is imperative that cognitive treatment be done while the person is in a program and even long afterwards. Counselling, support groups, therapy sessions, all of these can help a person who has a drug addiction to understand his feelings; identify his urges and cravings and keep the person from a relapse.
The mind has been altered. Sometimes permanently, sometimes not. Cognitive treatment can help reverse, or at least treat any alterations, so that a person can once again understand and think logically. Yes, this can be done. It is important that the person know he is not bad, that he is not a loser, but that instead he is making his way back to being himself with the help of professional counsellors and doctors as well as support groups with people who have been there and who will help them prevent a relapse.
It is key to a successful cognitive treatment of drug addiction, that the addict understands their mind and how it works. Most treatment centers which are known to put the recovery of the patient first, have this integrated in their program. If you are able to ask any questions you have, until everyone, the addict included, is satisfied that they understand psychologically what has occurred within an addicts own experiences, then this demonstrates a caring team. You’ll know that when their client walks out the door, they are not simply on their own but will have an aftercare program to continue the cognitive treatment as well as emotional support.
Nick Hayes is a graduate of the Narconon drug rehab program in 2005. Nick takes much enjoyment in writing, and feels there needs to be more information about drugs and alcohol provided to the people of the world. He believes nobody should have to go through an addiction.