Drug abuse, especially with drugs such as heroin, has a profound effect on brain functioning, particularly with long-term drug use. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, "addiction is a brain disease that affects multiple brain circuits, including those involved in reward and motivation, learning and memory and inhibits control over behavior." Subsequently, a multi-modal approach is the most effective approach, as it deals with the cause of the addiction, behaviors associated with the addiction, and offers practical ways to motivate heroin addicts to become drug-free.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is extremely helpful in assisting heroin addicts to recognize addictive behaviors. It also assists them in avoiding and dealing with drug-related situations. This form of treatment helps them to anticipate times of challenge in advance so they can be avoided. For instance, if being with longtime friends provokes drug abuse, they can avoid such encounters and circumstances until they are prepared to deal with the friends in new ways. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are three elements to successful drug rehabilitation. They must stop using drugs, adopt a drug-free lifestyle, and become productive in their daily lives.
Family Therapy
Multi-dimensional family therapy is a motivational approach that promotes dealing with the familial aspects of the healing of relationships that may be provoking drug abuse in heroin addicts. Often, there are issues in the family of origin or in the marital family that must be dealt with first before drug treatment may be successful.
Motivational interviewing
Motivational interviewing is a treatment that allows treatment providers, care givers and family members to assess the readiness of heroin addicts to alter drug abuse patterns or stop abusing drugs all together. These interviews or conversations are helpful in recognizing when an individual is ready to enter a drug rehabilitation, a half-way house, or even a shelter to begin rehabilitation efforts. They also are helpful in determining if the individual is back-sliding and has resumed drug abuse.
Contingency management
Contingency management involves using positive reinforcement and rewards to motivate heroin addicts. Essentially, it is a balanced trade-off where the addict is required to do something before they receive something. For example, to be eligible for staying in some homeless shelters and many half-way houses, an individual must pass a drug test that documents that they are not currently using drugs. Another example is seen in heroin addicts being required to be drug-free in order to receive services, get to see their estranged children, or keep probation. Additionally, positive reinforcement is an important part of any successful treatment plan for treating heroin addicts. Encouragement goes a long way to motivate people to change damaging and destructive behaviors.
