management.” That’s important, he points out, with abundant empirical evidence showing the effectiveness of combining medication-assisted treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy. the forefront and starting to be integrated with mental health care. It’s a necessity to treat both conditions at the same time.” Another recent development is one of the consequences of the nationwide opiate epidemic: more funding for addiction treatment, as policy makers have become more aware of the population opiates are affecting. “Before, when the problem was largely contained to the inner city, there wasn’t too much urgency. But, as we’ve seen opiate addiction spilling over into the mainstream and people dying, more funding is starting to be made available.” Gould, who joined the New Life counseling staff last March, says he appreciates New Life’s emphasis on treating “the whole person and not just relying on medication
One of the common “side effects” of addiction is conflict in family and other relationships. “When people are in an active state of addiction, they run into a lot of conflicts that happen with family, at work and other places. Being able to heal some of those conflicts is important to be successful in recovery.” When a recovering addict or alcoholic returns home, there is often a lack of trust among family members, based on their
past experiences. That can create conflict that can lead to relapse. It’s also important to deal with perceptions – “understanding how other people perceive you,” Gould says. At New Life, Gould facilitates group and individual therapy sessions. “One of the main challenges is figuring out how to motivate people who have no motivation, and how to combat denial – how do I get this person to understand that change is needed? But, first we sometimes have to deal with the basics – getting them into housing, for example.” One positive trend Gould has observed in his years in the addiction counseling field is the increasing integration of addiction treatment and mental health care. “Fifteen or 20 years ago, addiction treatment was on the back burner, a stepchild to behavioral health. But now it’s coming more to
“When the problem was
largely contained in the inner city, there wasn’t too much urgency.” -Dwayne Gould
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