Drug consumption in our society has undergone an alarming evolution. According to the European Drug Report, Europe now encompasses a wider range of substances than in the past and this carries a risk of the emergence of new forms of drug dependence. Substances such as cannabis, cocaine, designer drugs or alcohol have in common the serious effects on the nervous system and the ease with which people become hooked on these types of toxic substances.
Both health and educational systems must invest time and efforts in preventing and working on drug addiction and thus avoid the personal and social consequences that it entails. In the following Psychology-Online article, we will explain how to deal with drug addiction in adults and adolescents.
Activities to prevent drug addiction
The first step to working on drug addiction is to avoid drug use. As we have mentioned previously, we are living in a time of change even in drug consumption. Furthermore, we must add a new threat: the appearance of new substances and the ease of obtaining them thanks to the Internet. That is why, in this case, the prevention of drug addiction must focus on avoiding the first contact with them.
Activities to prevent this problem can be directed as follows:
- Health promotion: This type of activity is of a more general nature. Health promotion is based on offering information programs on healthy habits aimed at the entire population.
- Primary prevention: In this case, we target an audience that is more vulnerable to getting hooked on drugs (adolescents, marginalized people, people with mental health problems…) and we offer them information about the dangers of drug use, as well as leisure and entertainment alternatives. coping strategies.
- Secondary prevention: This task is aimed at making an early detection of the problem, in this case, detecting whether people who have occasionally consumed drugs can develop an addiction.
- Tertiary prevention: Here, more than prevention, we are talking about tasks aimed at treating and preventing relapses in drug addicts.
Exercises and games for drug addicts
Unfortunately, even when trying to avoid consumption and addiction, there are many people with drug addiction problems. Worldwide It is estimated that almost 30 million people around the world suffer from problems related to drug use and need some type of treatment.
From the practice of psychology (along with general medicine and psychiatry) an attempt is made to focus on the need to train competent professionals. Treating a drug addiction requires complete and multidisciplinary learning. To this end, training courses and master’s degrees in drug addiction have been developed that allow this problem to be addressed in the most effective way possible.
Intervention in drug addiction
Several workshops have been developed to work on drug dependence in adults and young people. This type of interventions may contain the following axes:
- Psychological reinforcement of self-esteem: When we strengthen self-esteem in a person who, for a series of reasons, is in a situation of drug addiction, it is likely that they will begin to make small decisions aimed at maintaining a certain mental and physical stability.
- Development of control strategies: Many times, a person defines their drug addiction situation as a “loss of control.” There are specific programs aimed at pursuing small goals to get back on the path to psychological well-being.
- Pharmacological treatments to avoid consumption: either through pills that cause strong discomfort with the contact of drugs (disulfiram) or with medications that resemble the substance itself (methadone).
Dynamics on drugs for adolescents
One of the most necessary lines of intervention to treat drug dependence is treatment in the adolescent population, either in specialized centers or in the institutes themselves. It is important to carry out activities and dynamics to raise awareness among this group.
1. Role-playing
Putting themselves in the role of another person helps adolescents express many fears and emotions that they normally do not dare to communicate. An example of role-playing would be staging a conversation between a worried mother and a drug-addicted son. The concerns and consternations that can arise from this dynamic are usually quite revealing.
2. Group reflection games
The main objectives of this exercise are to clarify myths about substance use and develop skills that prevent adolescents from developing drug dependence. Reflecting in a group allows us to put on the table many doubts that drugs can generate.
3. Group discussion
Like reflection, debate allows for a very revealing and effective exchange of information. Not only does it prevent risky behavior, it also invites reflection for those young people who have already developed a dependence on drugs.
4. Watching a documentary
Finally, this dynamic may seem ineffective (teenagers do not pay attention and often get bored) but if we get the information and the dissemination method right, watching a documentary can be a very powerful tool.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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