Treatment for Substance Use Disorders Altamonte Springs, FL

Signs of Substance Abuse

People with a substance abuse problem often display significant changes in their appearance, behavior, reactions, and mood. According to the Mayo Clinic, physical and behavioral signs can exhibit a substance abuse issue with symptoms that often vary by drug type. The most common physical signs include inability or lack of sleep, low to no appetite, and consistent cold symptoms. Common behavioral signs include a change in attitude or personality, change in social circle and setting, excessive need for privacy, and lack of motivation and energy.

Signs of Specific Substances

Although the signs run far and wide, physical and behavioral symptoms of substance abuse often mimic those of other health-related conditions. It may be helpful to look at signs common to specific substances.

• Alcohol: Clumsiness; difficulty walking; slurred speech; sleepiness; poor judgment; dilated pupils.
• Cocaine, Crack, Meth, and Other Stimulants: Hyperactivity; euphoria; irritability; anxiety; excessive talking followed by depression or excessive sleeping at odd times; go long periods of time without eating or sleeping; dilated pupils; weight loss; dry mouth and nose.
• Depressants (including barbiturates and tranquilizers): Seems drunk as if from alcohol but without the associated odor of alcohol; difficulty concentrating; clumsiness; poor judgment; slurred speech; sleepiness; and contracted pupils.
• Hallucinogens: Dilated pupils; bizarre and irrational behavior including paranoia, aggression, hallucinations; mood swings; detachment from people; absorption with self or other objects, slurred speech; confusion.
• Heroin: Needle marks; sleeping at unusual times; sweating; vomiting; coughing and sniffling; twitching; loss of appetite; contracted pupils; no response of pupils to light.
• Inhalants (glues, aerosols, and vapors): Watery eyes; impaired vision, memory, and thought; secretions from the nose or rashes around the nose and mouth; headaches and nausea; the appearance of intoxication; drowsiness; poor muscle control; anxiety; irritability
• Marijuana: Glassy, red eyes; loud talking and inappropriate laughter followed by sleepiness; a sweet burnt scent; loss of interest, motivation; weight gain or loss.

Finding a Substance Abuse Counselor

A substance abuse counselor is a key aspect of a journey towards recovery. It is crucial for a person struggling with substance abuse to work with a counselor that is best suited to help them. Since everyone has differing priorities and budgets, it is crucial to determine matters the most in a good counselor: insurance coverage, distance, availability, credibility, experience, personality, history, etc.

When looking for a possible substance abuse counselor, consider the following criteria:

1. Trust – an extremely important trait as this person will likely know and discuss information that is highly personal
2. Comfort – finding a person who identifies with the same beliefs, religion, gender, etc. can help build a strong relationship
3. Approach – does their approach to treatment resonate with the patient
4. Credentials & Education – are they certified and trained in working with alcohol and drug abuse? Does their education cover other aspects of abuse, such as mental health?

Understanding how substance abuse counseling works can greatly aid in creating an idea of the specific points the person needs to build a proper foundation. Once the patient has found a counselor that best suits their needs, the relationship can begin expanding and become stronger.

Goals of Substance Abuse Counseling

Although each substance abuse counselor has their own approach to treatment, there are standard goals that apply to all abuse counseling and therapies. Each patient who goes through an assessment and evaluation will have an individualized treatment plan that will list their goals in the form of a timeline. These goals are implemented throughout treatment and discussed as they come close to completion.

The primary goals of substance abuse counseling are to properly guide a patient away from their dependency, significantly reduce or eliminate their use of the drug in question, and alter their lifestyle to initiate healthier, stronger values. We attempt to achieve these goals by helping the patient rebuild their core relationships, find employment in an interest or hobby, and restore their personal beliefs and values in all other aspects of their life. These goals may seem broad, but each is personalized to match the patient’s treatment plan according to their medical and psych history, current health status, the severity of addiction, treatment type, substance type, and specifically outlined goals.

Types of Substance Abuse Counseling

Substance abuse is best treated through a combination of both individual and group therapies. Behavioral treatment is a common treatment option, depending on the case. The different forms of counseling and treatment include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT can help people with coping skills, identifying risky situations, knowing what to do about them, and preventing relapse.
• Contingency Management (CM): This treatment method provides material rewards as motivation for desirable behaviors, such as maintaining sobriety.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): DBT works to reduce cravings, help patients avoid situations or opportunities to relapse, assist in giving up actions that reinforce substance use, and learn healthy coping skills.
• Matrix Model: The Matrix Model employs a combination of various therapeutic techniques and focuses on rewarding good behaviors and teaching patients to believe in themselves.
• Motivational Interviewing (MI): This process allows patients to develop their own motivation and a plan for change over the course of several sessions, which can provide them with more of a sense of control over the course of their treatment.
• Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT): REBT helps patients understand their own thoughts, develop better habits, think positively and rationally, and gain healthier emotions.
• 12-Step Facilitation: The 12-Step treatment approach aims to promote continued abstinence by engaging people in recovery with 12-Step peer support groups