Running Heading: SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY PROGRAMS

SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY PROGRAMS SHOULD TARGET A PERSONS’

PATTERN BEHAVIOR RATHER THAN THEIR PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY

(Student Name)

(University Affiliation)
Substance abuse recovery programs 2

Substance abuse recovery programs should target a persons’ pattern behavior rather than

their physical chemistry

Abstract

Addiction is a chronic disease attached to one’s lifestyle behavior. Alcohol and other

substance abuse do not start out as a habit for finding pleasure in life. However, it becomes a

behavior that poses a threat to a person’s life and later graduates into an addiction. At the

addiction stage, people are unable to operate without using either alcohol or the substance they

are addicted. In a way to deal with the problem, several recovery programs are available. These

approaches can be consolidated into either behavioral or physical chemistry.

Behavioral approaches aim at helping people cope with drug use by focusing on behavior

change. On the other hand, physical chemistry use of chemical approach to handle addiction such

as removal of the chemical from the addicts body. This essay focuses on why behavioral

approach is the most effective way of handling addiction problem in the recovery programs. The

essay presents evidence from researchers and authors on the effectiveness of personal behavior

pattern as the best approach to recovery journey.

Substance abuse recovery programs 3

Introduction

Substance abuse is among the leading issues affecting young and middle age people in

America and the entire globe. Cases of suicide, overdose deaths, crimes and domestic violence

are mainly associated with drug and substance abuse. Importantly, substance use starts as a

normal seek for pleasure and joy in life that develops into a major problem as one tries to quit

only finding they are already addicted. Also, the substance use is a problem touching on all

spheres of society and a major challenge in many American prisons.

Many organizations and researchers have come up with strategies and ways of helping

people recover from substance and drug abuse. Both use of physical chemical and behavioral

therapies have been a practice in designing and implementing several recovery programs. While

both are appropriate, substance abuse recovery programs should target a person’s behavior rather

than their physical chemistry.

Onset, addiction is a behavioral chronic condition. Unlike other diseases, addiction is a

result of repeated habits. People turning to addicts start using a substance or alcohol as a source

of pleasure. If you ask most young and adults struggling with addiction, all of them will have one

message that they had no plan of becoming lifetime reliance of the drug. Some started using the

drug as a way of finding pleasure in life. Others turned to substance abuse so as to cope with

harsh experiences in their lives such as trauma and abuse (Bettinardi-Angres, 2010). In this

essence, addiction disease has a direct link to transformation of behavior that becomes a major

problem in an individual’s life. As such, applying personal behavior change can be a better

approach of enhancing recovery programs.

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Accordingly, Bettinardi-Angres (2010) cites research finding on whether there exists an

addiction personality. From the findings, it is clear that addiction has an impact on personal

abilities to cope with situation or make decisions. Also, the author found that people turn into

addiction due to lack of self-governance or in search of a solid personality. As one continues to

abuse substances and alcohol, their character development suffers some injuries turning them

into addicts. In this regard, addiction is a behavioral problem. People start using drugs and

substances with an aim of gaining a stable personality. However, they later start relying on the

drugs and substances in performing their daily duties.

In this essence, even though the use of physical chemical would help in dealing with

addiction, behavioral approach is the best way. The behavioral approach focuses on transforming

ones character. As such, it helps people to gain self-governance and decision making abilities

which a major issue leading to addiction. This aspect is not available on the physical chemical

process. Thus, if one undergoes a chemical treatment, they will always require a behavior change

backup to enable them deal with addiction.

Furthermore, addiction is a behavioral disease. Unlike common diseases, addiction starts

as a simple behavior change as people seek for pleasure and joy through using drugs and

substances. The substances transform their thinking and ability to make judgment and decisions.

Notably, psychological environment and social influences are core contributors of addiction.

This factors are the building blocks of one character.as such, if no change happens to the

conditions, even if the addicts undergo through a physical chemical treatment, their chances of

going back to the use of drugs and substances is higher. Hence, behavioral approaches targeting
Substance abuse recovery programs 5

personal traits and characters change are irreplaceable if substance abuse recovery programs will

succeed.

Essentially, according to White (2007), errors on defining recovery from substance abuse

has been the challenge to dealing with addiction. For long, return to sobriety has been in

application as the right meaning of recovery. However, people said to have recovered from

addiction that did not undergo behavioral transition to change their emotions, go back to

substance abuse. For this reason, addiction treatment that does not address personal behavior

patterns enhances the recurring of the problem rather than solving it.

Importantly to note, most addiction definitions term it as a change of character and

behavior. An addict is seen as a person with impaired and behavioral problems. Nevertheless,

addiction recovery definitions rarely include the term character change (White, 2007). Instead,

its definition takes a medical approach and use of medicines and chemicals in handling addiction

become a norm. As a result of this misconception many recovery programs are unable to achieve

their objectives. In this regard, addressing addiction should follow the same screen applied in

defining it. This means that substance abuse recovery programs need to address personal

behavior patterns other than applying physical chemicals to handle the issue.

Another aspect of addiction is that there are people who overcome the problem without

necessary undergoing any treatment. Most of these people make a decision to stop using a

substance due to its impact and experiences they suffer from it. As such, they make a decision to

change their addiction behavior to living a healthy and sober life. This aspect is evidence that

behavior change is a crucial aspect in handling drug addiction.

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While detoxification and other physical chemical based treatment can play a significant

role in handling addiction, without approaches to personal behavior pattern change, recovery will

remain a dream. Nikmanesh, Baluchi, & Motlagh, (2007) defines addiction as a problem founded

on psychosocial impacts. Most of the issues relate to one’s character and behavior. As such, any

recovery program that only focuses on dealing with removal of chemicals from the addicts’ body

without an eye on the psychosocial and behavioral transformation will not succeed in dealing

with addiction.

Moreover, behavioral approaches are crucial in preventing relapse cases. According to a

research by Nikmanesh et al (2007), social support have a central role in determining whether an

addict will go back to drug use or not. In this research, those with a positive social support had

limited chances of going back to drug and substance abuse compared to those without it or where

it is negative. Also, the researchers found that self-efficacy and beliefs were a major determinant

of whether an addict will suffer from relapse or not.

Importantly, while medical treatment is a core requirement at certain levels of addiction

given that it is a disease addicts require extended moral and social supports in comparison with

other medical conditions (Nikmanesh et al., 2007),. The success of addiction treatment relies

primarily on the social support and personal behavior pattern change rather than the medicines or

chemicals applied in the recovery process. In this view, handling addiction should aim at

transition of personal behavior in place of chemical removal alone.

Furthermore, recovering from substance abuse is not a simple process. The process is

stressful and challenging. As such, it requires social support and personal decision to succeed.
Substance abuse recovery programs 7

Even with the use of medicinal and chemical approaches, people in the recovery process require

a behavioral approach such as social support groups and families that will offer them a helping

hand in their journey to change. Without social support, addicts end up in denial and mental

challenges which guide their steps back to their usual way of life – turning back to drug and

substance abuse.

In this essence, recovery programs that aim at achieving the best result in changing

people with drug abuse problem has to apply the a behavioral treatment. This aspect is evidenced

in the findings of Nikmanesh et al (2007). The researchers found that people with high self-

efficiency and receiving efficient social support rare suffer from relapse. The aim of the social

support is to help addicts gain a positive reception of their journey to behavior change.

Additionally, personal beliefs have a central role to dealing with addiction. People who

believe they can easily do without drugs has a high rate of overcoming addiction compared to

their counterparts. According to Nikmanesh et al (2007) findings, self-efficacy when coupled

with social support, act as fundamental pillars in handling addiction problem during the recovery

process. In this regard, substance abuse recovery programs must concentrate on offering the

addicts trainings that will enhance and shape their beliefs instead of emphasizing on physical

chemical. Focusing on a change in one’s self-beliefs is part of the transitional journey to

enhancing personal behavioral transformation.

As such, a successful recovery program has to put emphasis in changing ones behavior in

place of just removing chemicals in an addict body through the application of physical

chemistry. This aspect is true as Nikmanesh et al (2007) and other findings conclude that medical
Substance abuse recovery programs 8

preventions and treatment plans that apply physical chemical approaches of diagnosis and

treatment without incorporating behavioral techniques do not succeed in handling addiction

problem. However, a behavioral treatment focusing on personal behavior pattern can succeed

without any medical or physical chemical interventions. For this reason, recovery programs need

to focus on transforming a person’s behavior pattern in place of removing drugs in their bodies

through physical chemical approaches.

Apart from this, behavioral approaches are cost-effective compared with the medical or

physical chemical ones. According to a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration (SAMHSA), United States use more than $20 billion to provide care for

substance abuse disorders (Arnett, 2016). The expenditure could be used in other services

delivery or obtain drugs for other conditions. Also, the reports indicate that the country spends

about $600 billion annually in substance abuse. Notably, the researcher states that treating

substance abuse through this approach is expensive.

Even with this efforts and costs, the end result of the process relies on the aspect of the

cooperation of the substance abuser and the clinician. In this view, if there is a drift in the

relationship, recovering from addiction will be a challenge. Also, the clinician must identify the

individual characters and protective factors in order to achieve a particular end result. Hence, this

is evidence that any substance recovery program must concentrate on working to change a

person’s behavioral patterns than the substance they are using.

In another view, substance abuse recovery programs seek to change ones way of living.

The aim is to make one a resourceful part of the family, community and the society. To achieve
Substance abuse recovery programs 9

this objective, one must change their beliefs and behavior pattern. Family and the society play a

central role in the change process. As Atadokht et al (2015) research found family behavior is a

determiner of whether a person will go back to substance abuse after releasing them from the

recovery centers or not.

Where a family has a positive behavior towards people in the recovery phase, their

chances of relapse is minimal in comparison with their counterparts. In this regard, instead of

applying physical chemicals, the recovery programs need to focus on enhancing one behavior

pattern (Arnett, 2016)s. This means that they should seek to strengthen factors that shape

personal behavior such as the public perception on people using drugs.

Sequentially, the increase in addiction rate despite the availability of rehab and recovery

centers is a sign of insufficient of the current programs. According to the available statistics,

there are more than 190 million addicts across the world. However, it cannot be stated with

clarity that this number is static as new addicts are joining the substance abuse league. Some of

this people are either entrants or addicts who were in the recovery process but go back to

substance abuse.

Given that the situation is progressing even with increasing rehabilitation and recovery

center which apply physical chemical approaches, the increasing rate of substance abuse is a

clear that it is either ineffective or requires a backup in form of behavioral approach. Also, it is

evidence that the current programs focus on dealing with the symptoms rather than the main

cause of the problem. As such, the addiction situation remains the same as it was prior to the

establishment of those programs.

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Importantly to note is that the number of people using drugs increased by about three

times. All this happened even with substantial number of recovery and rehabilitation centers

(Atadokht et al, 2015). As such, this incident should be an indicator of a need to refocus and

redesign the current substance abuse recovery programs so as to base them on changing addicts’

behavior pattern other than removing drugs in their body which is the core goal of the modern

ones. Instead of focusing solely on helping one abstain from substance they are abusing, the

programs should aim at enabling people change their behavior which in turn will transform their

addiction traits.

Furthermore, people behind the recovery programs fail to understand the aspect of

addiction as a behavioral syndrome disease. Unlike other diseases, addiction comes along as a

corruption of one’s behavior pattern. There are no viruses or bacteria that result in addiction.

Instead, psychological and social factors are the main players to addiction as they determine how

one will behave. Also, the relationship between one and various society members determines

their future in substance abuse (Atadokht et al, 2015). Where there is a positive relationship,

cases or relapse are minimal in comparison with the opposite.

As Atadokht et al (2015) notes, 90% of addicts in the recovery process went back to

substance abuse after one year. The author shows that lack of proper communication and

understanding from the family members as well as maltreatment of an addict facilitated their

relapse rate. However, if the family members changed their perspective through enhancing their
Substance abuse recovery programs 11

communication and understanding the addict as a sick person, they reduce the case of relapse or

even recovery without having to undergo the substance recovery process.

In this essence, it is certain that the role of family and the society which are crucial in

shaping a person’s behavior pattern are essential tools in the addiction disease hearing process

(Atadokht et al, 2015). Thus, the overall goal of substance abuse recovery programs should

involve the transformation of people’s behavior through ensuring a productive relationship

between them and their family members. Use of physical chemical alone ignores the behavioral

aspect of the addiction syndrome.

By this, the recovering population lacks the ability to interact and cooperate with other

members of the society. Hence, they start living in denial and self-pity. As a result, they go back

to substance abuse as a way of coping with the stress and distress of rejection from the society

and families. For this reason, any substance abuse recovery program needs to base its process on

transforming a person’s behavior than just dealing with the drug dependency.

Besides, addiction is a fruit of addictive thinking and beliefs. The thought and belief

patterns mature to become a person’s behavior or a way of life. While physical chemical can

play a role in helping one to stop abusing substances, it does not engage their thinking and belief

system change (Range & Marlatt, 2008). Given that addiction is a behavioral syndrome, without

changing a person’s behavior pattern makes the physical chemical process ineffective.

Also, substance abuse is a learned behavior. For one to start using a given substance, they

learn it from peers, family members or the society which are the pillars that form one’s behavior

(Range & Marlatt, 2008). Importantly, the family and society attitude towards a substance such
Substance abuse recovery programs 12

as alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine determines whether a person will develop an addictive

behavior or not.

In the same way, behavioral approaches such as spiritual and motivational interviews

play a crucial role in preventing relapse. These forms of social support help addicts to change

their lives. Social support enhances psychological health. As such, since addiction is a

psychosocial-behavioral problem, social support enable addicts to have a positive feeling about

their lives. Hence, it motivates them to change their substance reliance lives.

Particularly, when the social support incorporates spiritual teaching that focus on helping

the addicts to realize their worth as human beings, it enables them to change their beliefs and

perceptions. These aspects are not available in the physical chemical treatments. The approach

focuses on helping people handle their current addiction problem other than aiming at changing

their behavior (Atadokht et al, 2015). Thus, even though people will overcome their substance

dependency, since no change happened to their behavior, the achieved results will last for a short

duration. In this regard, if substance abuse recovery program does not focus on behavior

transformation, it is almost impossible to solve the addiction problem.

In addition, various studies have focused on comparing the effectiveness of physical

chemical substance abuse recovery programs and plans such as detoxification and behavioral

approaches which include family and social support. As shown in the essay, their conclusion is

that people who receive support from their families and society can cope with addiction even

without having to undergo medical treatment (Atadokht et al, 2015). However, the cases are

different where relapse rates are high when physical chemical methods lack a behavioral
Substance abuse recovery programs 13

technique back up. Thus, redesigning substance abuse recovery programs in a way they will be

addressing a change on addicts’ behavior pattern than helping them to just quit their dependence

can help to reduce the escalating addiction rates across the globe.

In summing up, addiction is a behavioral syndrome. The disease starts as a search of

pressure or belonging in a given social setting. Later, it becomes part of their behavior system

even though it has negative consequences in their day to day life. Behavioral approaches aim at

helping people cope with drug use by focusing on behavior change. On the other hand, physical

chemistry use of chemical approach to handle addiction such as removal of the chemical from

the addicts body.

Substance abuse recovery programs 14

Annotated Bibliography

Arnett, K. D. (2016). Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy.

This is a journal review article presenting a review of current treatment of Substance use

disorder treatments. The author has focused on what the previous studies have

recommended about individual involvement in the recovery process. The article will be

important in indicating why personal behavior is the central factor of one’s recovery from

drugs and substance abuse.

Atadokht, A., Hajloo, N., Karimi, M., & Narimani, M. (2015). The role of family expressed

emotion and perceived social support in predicting addiction relapse. International

journal of high risk behaviors & addiction, 4(1).

This is a research article presenting a study on why family members have a critical role in

an addict recovery journey. The researchers found that where there is positive support,

addicts have minimum possibilities of going back to drug use in comparison with the

opposite. In this essence, this article will be important in arguing why family behavior

matters in modeling an addict behavioral pattern in the recover process.

Bettinardi-Angres, K., & Angres, D. H. (2010). Understanding the disease of addiction. Journal

of Nursing Regulation, 1(2), 31-37.

This is a journal article trying to clarify and help people understand the addiction as a

disease. The authors have deeply explained what addiction is and the factors that lead to

substance and drug abuse. The article is crucial in showing why behavioral approaches
Substance abuse recovery programs 15

are the best way of handling the problem. This is because addiction is a behavioral issue

and its solution must follow the same process.

Carroll, K. M., & Onken, L. S. (2007). Behavioral therapies for drug abuse. Focus, 5(2), 240-

248.

In this journal article, Carroll and Onken are focusing on various behavioral therapies

applied in the substance and drug abuse recovery programs. The authors have reviewed

the available behavioral therapies development and effectiveness in dealing with drug

and substance abuse. As such, this article is crucial as it have insightful information about

the behavioral patterns making it easier to compare them with physical chemistry

approaches applicable in recovery programs.

Nikmanesh, Z., Baluchi, M. H., & Motlagh, A. A. P. (2017). The Role of Self-Efficacy Beliefs

and Social Support on Prediction of Addiction Relapse. International Journal of High

Risk Behaviors and Addiction, 6(1).

This research article from International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction

has focused on finding out if self-efficacy and social support can prevent future relapse.

Social support is one of behavioral patterns applied in dealing with drug abuse. From the

researchers’ conclusion, the two aspects are crucial in handling drug addiction. People

who receive valuable social support have rare cases of going back to substance and drug

usage. Thus, the article is essential in handling this persuasive essay.

Substance abuse recovery programs 16

Rangé, B. P., & Marlatt, G. A. (2008). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for alcohol and drug use

disorders. Revista brasileira de psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil: 1999), 30, s88-95.

In this research paper, Range and Marlatt (2008) presents a literature evidence review of

various cognitive-behavioral therapies. The researchers have mainly focused on relapse

prevention, stages of change, motivational interviews, and cognitive model. Also, the

researchers acknowledge that behavioral models are a better way of addressing substance

and drug abuse and application in the recovery programs. Due to this aspect, it contains

essential information for use in the argument.

Tavakoli Ghouchani, H., Niknami, S., Aminshokravi, F., & Hojat, S. K. (2015). Comparing

reasons for quitting substance abuse with the constructs of behavioral models: A

qualitative study. J Educ Community Health, 1(4), 22-31.

In this research article, the researchers conducted a study to determine what motivates

people to quitting substance abuse. The research applied a qualitative approach. From the

study, it they found that attitude and other behavioral models has a central role in one’s

decision to quitting substance abuse. Thus, the article is essential in arguing why

recovery programs should apply a behavioral approach instead of the physical chemistry

option.

White, W. L. (2007). Addiction recovery: Its definition and conceptual boundaries. Journal of

Substance Abuse Treatment, 33(3), 229-241.

Substance abuse recovery programs 17

This is an essay trying to clear out the confusion existing in the definition of the addiction

recovery. In doing so, the author presents a list of ten questions about the real definition

of recovery. The term transformational change is a central phrase in defining addiction

recovery. This essay will help in forming the ground of why recovery is more of a

behavioral process than a chemical one. As such, it will help arguing out the essentiality

of personal behavioral pattern in the recovery programs.

Substance abuse recovery programs 18

References:

Arnett, K. D. (2016). Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy.

Atadokht, A., Hajloo, N., Karimi, M., & Narimani, M. (2015). The role of family expressed

emotion and perceived social support in predicting addiction relapse. International

journal of high risk behaviors & addiction, 4(1).

Bettinardi-Angres, K., & Angres, D. H. (2010). Understanding the disease of addiction. Journal

of Nursing Regulation, 1(2), 31-37.

Carroll, K. M., & Onken, L. S. (2007). Behavioral therapies for drug abuse. Focus, 5(2), 240-

248.

Nikmanesh, Z., Baluchi, M. H., & Motlagh, A. A. P. (2017). The Role of Self-Efficacy Beliefs

and Social Support on Prediction of Addiction Relapse. International Journal of High

Risk Behaviors and Addiction, 6(1).

Rangé, B. P., & Marlatt, G. A. (2008). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for alcohol and drug use

disorders. Revista brasileira de psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil: 1999), 30, s88-95.

Tavakoli Ghouchani, H., Niknami, S., Aminshokravi, F., & Hojat, S. K. (2015). Comparing

reasons for quitting substance abuse with the constructs of behavioral models: A

qualitative study. J Educ Community Health, 1(4), 22-31.

White, W. L. (2007). Addiction recovery: Its definition and conceptual boundaries. Journal of

Substance Abuse Treatment, 33(3), 229-241.