Introduction

Drug addiction has become the major problem which the society and the church are facing.
Drug addicts are usually discarded in the society because of their life style. The several
organizations, ministries and social-welfare groups are involve in solving out this common
problem in society. However, in this paper presentation it focuses on the methods of effective
counselling for drug addiction.

1. The Understanding of Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is a total defence upon any kind of drugs characterize by a compulsive desire.
This defence is due to a person’s inability to control oneself when faced with a strong urge to
fulfil the desire.1 Drug addiction, is also called substance dependence or chemical
dependency, is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking
and use despite harmful consequences to the individual that is addicted and to those around
them. Drug addiction is a brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the
structure and function of the brain.2

2. The Causes of Drug Addiction

There are many reasons why people take drugs which are also for different purposes. But the
most common reasons are due to peer group pressure, curiosity, frustration, instability at
home, too much freedom. With all such complicated causes there are also several problems
associated with drug addiction. The following are some common factors that causes to drug
addiction:

2.1. The Genetic Factor

Drug addiction is a disease, and scientist years ago started looking at it like any other
illness, and asked the question, “Does genetics matter?” The question has led to research
worldwide, and researchers are still trying to find out if there is a genetic factor in
determining the chances that a person will develop an addiction to either drugs or alcohol.
Scientist in the past few years began isolating certain genes that might be the ‘Addiction
Gene'. The ‘Addiction Gene' is supposed to be the gene or genes responsible for why some
people become addicted to drugs and alcohol.3

1
Rodney J. Hunter, Dictionary of Pastoral care and counselling (Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press,
2005), 311.
2
Howard Abaninsky, Drug use and Abuse, A comprehensive Introduction (Cambridge: Wand
worthCengage Learning, 2008), 6.
3
Patsy Westcott, Why do people take drugs? (London: Steck-Vaughn, 2001), 20.

1
 2.2. Mental Illness
Many drugs addicts also suffer from other mental illnesses. It is estimated that 35-
50% of addicts suffer from at least one other mental illness as well. Two of the most common
are: anxiety and depression. Sometimes, these illnesses are the reason why the person turned
to a substance to begin with. Some people who become addicted to drugs or alcohol will use
the excuse that it is fine, because they need it, or because they have an illness; such as,
depression or anxiety. People who become addicted to drugs normally have an excuse; many
people blame it on an existing illness.4

2.3. Anxiety
Anxiety can be hard for a person to deal with, most of the time a prescription
medication is given to help, but sometimes this is not enough and the person will start to
abuse their prescription or turn to other drugs or alcohol to help. Also the reverse is true;
sometimes, drug and alcohol use or addiction leads the person to develop anxiety.5

2.4. Depression
Depression may be one of the most common mental illnesses known to man.
Everyday more and more people are diagnosed with depression worldwide. Some people will
become addicted to the medications that were prescribed to them, because the feelings that
they create. Some addicts start off with the prescriptions that were given to them by a doctor,
overtime some will start to believe that it is not enough.6

2.5. Age When First Used

Statistically, the earlier a person begins using drugs or alcohol, the higher their
chances of abusing or becoming addicted to them in the future. Most addicts that get treated
for addiction report that they started using one or more substances at an early age. Most
addicts begin in their teenage years, but some begin earlier than that, and some later in life.
To most researchers the age of first use does seem to be a factor in why some people become
addicted to drugs and alcohol.7

4
Westcott, Why do people take drugs?, 23.
5
Westcott, Why do people take drugs? , 23.
6
Glean R. Hanson and Peter J. Venturelli, Drugs and the Society (London: Jones and Bartlett’s
Publication, 2009), 7.
7
Hanson and Venturelli, Drugs and the Society , 55.

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3. The Methods of Counselling to Drug Addicts
According to John D. Talley, Counselling is a process that enables a person to sort out issues
and reach decisions affecting their life. It involves talking with a person in a way that helps
the person solve a problem or helps to create conditions that will cause the person to
understand and or improve his/her behaviour, character, values or life circumstances. 8 There
are few practical methods for counselling to drug addictions as follows:

3.1. Seeking out Counselling

Seeking out counselling is a difficult thing to do because it’s to start with the drug
addict admitting that they have a problem. Many people with some sort of drug dependency
just can’t do that. A family intervention is a common method of getting addicts to confront
their problems, but there are not always people who are willing to help. Admittance is nearly
always done through self-will, so when that day comes it’s time to take advantage of it by
seeking out addictions counselling.9

3.2. Medical Diagnosis

Drug addiction is a medical problem. By taking drugs can negatively impact the brain.
This is because chemicals in drugs affect the brain's communication system by disrupting the
way nerve cells normally send, receive and process information. There are two distinct ways
in which drugs can have this effect - either by imitating the brain's chemical messengers
and/or by over stimulating the brain's 'reward' circuit. When a person becomes extreme
addicted to drugs, the sensual nerve system and brain function becomes weak. The
Medications are an important part in treatment for many patients, especially when combined
with counselling and other behavioural therapies. Medications can be used to help re-
establish normal brain function and to prevent relapse and diminish cravings. 10 The patients
will be able to receive and recognize the message/ advice if only their brain is functioning
well. The counsellor should be aware with the situation of client and refer to heath workers
for medical treatment.

8
John D. Tally, Pastoral counselling (Alabama: NP, 1996), 1.
9
http://www.uk-rehab.com/addiction-counselling/drug-addiction/, accessed on 21st Feb, 2015.
10
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction,accessed
st
on 21 Feb, 2015.

3
 3.3. Effective Counselling
The term “counselling” can be understood as a process in which a trained person
(the counsellor) collects relevant information from the person who is seeking help (the
client), and accordingly gives suggestions and professional guidance in a formal setting. 11
Therefore, the counsellor must be building up with certain qualities and qualifications and
able to provide different forms of counselling as Personal counselling, family counselling,
group counselling. Counsellor is expected to have skills to make the client (and their family)
comfortable so as to facilitate change in a positive direction. The following are some of the
important points for an effective counselling are:
1. The room where counselling would be held should be well-lit, comfortable
and allow for privacy.
2. When the client comes into the room, it is important to use culturally
appropriate greeting gestures and the client should be addressed by his name.
3. The counsellor should be aware of one’s own non-verbal body language
(Speech, Eye-to-eye contact, Posture, Gestures used, and Pauses) and specifically the tone of
voice while counselling.
4. The client should be assured that all information in the counselling will be
kept confidential. The confidentiality will only be breached if there is an imminent threat to
the life of the client or to those around him/her. The confidentiality will be breached with
prior information to the client.
5. Counselling is a process communication and the client should be told that
he/she is equally responsible for change in behaviour.
6. The counsellor should clearly expressive the “dos and don’ts” in the
counselling session. The limit-setting should be done in a polite and firm manner. Example:
Client cannot come to the session in an intoxicated state.12

The counsellor needs such effective in their character for effective counselling like the
counsellor needs to be Non-judgmental, Genuine, Calm and supportive, Self-aware and
Objective. And through counselling there must be skills of counsellor like An understanding
of the client’s problems, Communicating that understanding back to the client, Clearing

11
http://www.unodc.org/documents/southasia/Trainingmanuals/A_Counsellors_Handbook.pdf,
accessed on 22nd Feb, 2015.
12
http://www.unodc.org/documents/southasia/Trainingmanuals/A_Counsellors_Handbook.pdf,
accessed on 22nd Feb, 2015.

4
ambivalences, and Exploring and planning for positive change with the client. Counselling
then continues along with all other supports that are built in the life management plan. It is
essential that a previously addicted person learns the value of finding good friends and
involve in other groups. Addicted people live inside their own heads for much of the time,
and creating activities, like support groups, sport, meaningful work are all important in
recovery. Any counsellor that considers themselves as effective in addiction treatment should
offer all of the above. Ask the questions. It is vitally important, because discouragement
happens very quickly if someone has to run the scope of changing levels of effective (or non-
effective) treatment and counsellors.13

4. Biblical Counselling
According to John F. Mathur, Biblical counseling as a device to enlarge and reinforce the
confidence of God’s people in the sufficiency, superiority, and practicality of scripture for
dealing with all of the issues of life, and to convince Christian that the resources we have in
Christ and His words are not only sufficient for handling and solving all of the personal and
inter personal problems of life but are superior to the resources that are found in the world,
i.e. to answer the questions.14
The Biblical counselling is an art and science of analysing and solving the problem in
accordance with the Biblical principles. It can also be define as a helping and encouraging
people by using the Bible as a source of giving counselling. The drug addicts may able to
know more about God and the salvation with new life in Christ. (II Cor. 5:17). 15 As Biblical
counsellor continually focuses the client’s attention on the authority and sufficiency of
scripture and explores the client’s problems from a Biblical standpoint. A discouraged or
disappointed client can gain hope as he/she learns from scripture that God’s Peace and joy, as
well through the Biblical counsellor the clients can understands the real meaning of life. The
goal of Biblical counseling is not only to change the behaviour and character of the client as
an individual but to restore back the client’s relationship with Christ.16

13
http://www.recoveroz.com.au/counselling, accessed on 22nd Feb, 2015.
14
John F. Arthur, Introduction to Biblical counseling: A Basic guide to the principles and practices of
counseling (Maharastra: ISPCK, 1994), ix.
15
Larry Crabb, EffectiveBiblical counseling: A Model for helping caring Christians Become Capable
counsellor (Secunderbad: OM Books, 1977), 146.
16
Tally, Pastoral counselling, 21.

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Conclusion
Drugs have been used by people for many years for different reasons as a tone for relaxation
and a means to alter their mood. Hence, everybody uses drugs in one way or the other.
However, these drugs are legally and socially accepted, but illegal drugs affects health and
family and social environment. Since the counsellor plays a vital role in the life of drug
addict, so the counsellor must consider their clients as important person and deal with proper
methods in counselling. And also be able to utilize several skills, methods and characters.
The Church leaders, members should participate in counselling programs or seminaries for
the ministries among the drug addiction. Biblical counsellor must able to focus their client as
important person, with proper teaching, comforting, giving solution, encouragement and
accepting him/her within Biblical standpoint. The counsellor’s role is not only to
communicate the message or help the clients with effective words, but the clients should be
able take step forward in recovery and also to live a life in a meaningful way.

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Bibliography
Abaninsky, Howard. Drug use and Abuse, A comprehensive Introduction. Cambridge: Wand
worthCengage Learning, 2008.

Arthur,John F. Introduction to Biblical counseling: A Basic guide to the principles and

practices of counseling. Maharastra: ISPCK, 1994

Crabb, Larry. Effective Biblical counseling: A Model for helping caring Christians Become
Capable counsellor. Secunderbad: OM Books, 1977.

Hanson, Glean R. and Peter J. Venturelli. Drugs and the Society. London: Jones and
Bartlett’s Publication, 2009.

Hunter, Rodney J. Dictionary of Pastoral care and counselling. Nashville, Tennessee:

Abingdon Press, 2005.

Tally, John D. Pastoral counselling. Alabama: NP, 1996.

Westcott, Patsy. Why do people take drugs? London: Steck-Vaughn, 2001.

Webliography

http://www.uk-rehab.com/addiction-counselling/drug-addiction/, accessed on 21st Feb, 2015.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug- addiction,
accessed on 21st Feb, 2015.

http://www.unodc.org/documents/southasia/Trainingmanuals/A_Counsellors_Handbook.pdf,
accessed on 22nd Feb, 2015.

http://www.recoveroz.com.au/counselling, accessed on 22nd Feb, 2015.