At large, most people assume detoxification or rehabilitation is the first step in addiction. The fact is “no” and it is not the first step of treatment.
Treating addiction is a comprehensive process and involves many stages. Be it any kind or level of addiction, the stages of addiction before the treatment includes:
- Pre-contemplation,
- Contemplation, and
- Preparation.
Then comes addiction therapy or treatment. Followed by (post-rehabilitation) the stages:
- Recovery,
- Relapse, and
- Permanent sobriety.
Now that you know the different stages, you may say “pre-contemplation” is the first step of addiction treatment. In this stage, the addicts or the patients don’t even realize that they have a problem with addiction. It is a stage wherein the patient has no clue of contemplating him or herself about their addiction.
So, is admitting the problem the first step of addiction treatment?
Those days when you ask addiction experts about what is the first step of addiction treatment, then they might have answered “YES.” Because they considered admitting the problem as the foremost step even before contemplation. And it was easier for the family or friends to convince the addicts about their problem.
Whereas now, if you ask the addiction experts the same question, the answer is going to be a “NO.” Why? Because, these days, it is getting harder and harder for family members or friends to convince patients about their problems. The patients have become more resistant to such talks and are not even ready to listen to anybody.
Thus, deaddiction centre experts and Doctors now consider one-on-one conversations and frequent interventions of loved ones as the first step of addiction. Let’s see why each of these two is important and why they consider it the first step of addiction treatment.
Why One-on-one conversations are important?
Loved ones could possibly be one of their family members or friends or relationship partners. When patient’s loved ones come to them and make some one-on-one conversations with them, these things are bound to happen:
- The addict may at least listen to the loved one
- Even if the addict rejects the conversation the first few times, he or she may consider responding the next time
- The addict has lesser chances of getting violent or reacting harshly as the person might be the most loved one
- There may be some trust towards the loved one who’s coming and talking to the addict.
- The addict may understand the signs of addiction
Any of these are positive signs toward making the patient self-realize that they have an addiction problem. Undoubtedly, it helps the pre-contemplation stage of addiction treatment.
Why frequent interventions are important?
When people have only one or two conversations or interventions with the addict, there will be no much use. Because the addict may think it: – A waste of time
- A one-time deal
- A disappointment
Whereas, if loved ones intervene more than a couple of times, then the addict may see it as a serious problem. Also, the addict may lose the fear of contemplating and may start opening up all of a sudden. Thus, frequent interventions are important and a great help to convince addiction patients. This way, the patients try not to hide or shun the hard truths. And addiction recovery becomes much easier.
Pro-tip: We have to ensure that whoever is initiating a conversation with the addict, they have to understand the crucial situation. And by any chance, do not overreact or blame the addict just like that. In this case, we are actually diverting the patients as if we’re asking them to not get back to such discussions anymore. So, the only way to talk or intervene with them is with politeness and a non-defensive manner.
Hope we answered your question about what is the first step of addiction!
Not able to convince or handle it yourself?
Are you one of those loved ones who is still struggling to convince or explain to the addictive individual about their problem?
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