Occupational Therapy and the Psychosocial Aspects of Drug Addiction

Drug Addiction and Occupational Therapy

James W. Brazelle
Augusta Technical College

Drug addiction and occupational therapy

Table of contents
Keywords - 3
Synopsis - 3
Psychosocial effects and interventions - 7
Cultural Impact - 9
References - 11
AJOT article red tab
OT Practice article clear tab
ADVANCE article blue tab
AOTA Flyer Overcoming Drug and Alcohol Abuse orange tab
Psychiatric Times article orange tab
Group Protocols yellow tab

Drug addiction and occupational therapy

Drug addiction and occupational therapy

Keywords: Occupational Therapy- Therapeutic use of everyday life activities with

individuals or groups for the purpose of enhancing or enabling participation in roles, habits,
routines, and rituals in home, school, workplace, community, and other settings. (Jacobs &
Simon, 2015)
Patient satisfaction- The clients affective response to his or her perceptions of the
process and benefits of receiving occupational therapy services. (Watson & Wilson, 2003)
Self-concept- view one has of ones self (e.g., ideas, feelings, attitudes, identity, worth,
capabilities and limitations). (Jacobs & Simon, 2015)
Substance related disorders- include all disorders caused by recreational drugs (including
alcohol), prescription medications, naturally occurring substances (e.g., peyote), and
environmental toxins. (Early, 2009)
The article I chose discusses the effects of occupational therapy study on helping clients
in recovery from substance addiction. What I learned is that using self-development groups with
salient themes is effective in helping further and gain satisfaction in the recovery process from
substance abuse. The program used is based in a person-environment-occupation model. The
PEO model is well suited to a population in which personal and neurological factors interact with
contextual influences in such a way that seeking and using alcohol and other drugs become
dominant occupations (Pelquin & Ciro, 2013). The program mixes practices of life skills
development, activity based psychosocial groups, and interventions deemed effective for
individuals challenged by substance abuse/dependence (Pelquin & Ciro, 2013) (AOTA, 2002).
The program uses a format of seven general goals which are as follows: developing coping skills
to handle challenges and frustrations; increasing the sense of self as capable of insight, change,
mastery, and self-direction; handling typical and unique stressors; identifying, appreciating and

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engaging in meaningful substance-free activities; enhancing life skills that enable the
establishment and maintenance of healthy lifestyle patterns; cultivating problem solving and
cognitive-behavioral strategies; and enhancing communication, self-expression, and selfmanagement skills. These goals match up satisfactorily with combating the negative effects of
substance abuse. Personally, the one that stands out the most as important is engaging in
meaningful substance-free activities. The self-development group used focuses on themes from
recovery literature and includes a psychoeducational exercise and discussion and also an art or
craft project that is representative of the PEO model and the recovery theme of the group. Also,
they practice relaxation and stress management at the end of each session. Therapeutic use of self
is also mentioned as important in supporting the processes of the clients.
To summarize the results, 97% of the participants surveyed were satisfied with the
occupational therapy groups. As well, the median score of members in the survey questions
indicated that they strongly agreed that the activities used encouraged engagement in selfdevelopment skills during the group.
Mostly, what this article did for me was to force me to take a closer look at how
occupational therapy impacts mental health. I would describe this as mental health in action and
in context. Mental and social health does not happen in a vacuum or in an office or on a
counselors couch. Although, that type of treatment is important. Traditional therapy doesnt see
the client in action. In a flyer produced by the AOTA entitled Overcoming Drug and Alcohol
Abuse they state, occupational therapy intervention differs from traditional drug treatment
counseling by teaching the skills necessary for each individual to reestablish roles such as
worker, spouse, parent, child, or friend without using drugs. (AOTA, 2002) In essence the
therapy and practice happens in real time and in real situations, however controlled and adapted

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to suit the needs of the clients. Also, I learned that often clients with substance abuse problems
often have other psychological problems or diagnoses. These other issues must be taken into
account in treatment and in avoiding relapse.

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Psychosocial effects of Substance Abuse

Substance abuse can have a hefty impact upon occupational performance. In regards to
time management and leisure, newly sober clients often are still drawn to activities associated
with substance use and may be struggling with understanding how to use the large amounts of
time in which they were using. Also, the client often will need to learn social interaction skills
without the use of the substance which has been a crutch in previous social situations. The client
may have lost contact with important social support such as family and friends who dont use,
due to the clients previous behavior. Often the client may have lost their job due to substance
abuse or may have quit a job that encouraged using their substance of choice. As well, the client
may have dropped out of school or performed poorly due to their addiction. Additional training
may be required to establish satisfactory employment. Clients may be in need of self-care
strategies for personal hygiene and diet/meal planning in cases where they may have let
themselves go in lieu of getting high. Furthermore, financial management can be needed in
cases where the client finds they dont know what to do with the money they used to spend on
dope. Clients often need help adapting to the change in roles, identity, self-concept that they may
be experiencing. If the client is a parent they may need guidance on parenting skills that are more
functional than the ones they have come to use. Also, stress management and coping skills will
need to be addressed because frequently the substance was used as a way to cope. To quote
Andrea McElroy from her article in OT Practice magazine on helping clients who are homeless
and have addictions, These individuals are not only homeless but have many additional barriers
to recovery such as lack of employment history, lack of education, lack of basic employment

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skills such as computer use, past criminal history, co-morbid mental health diagnoses, and
overall poor health. (McElroy, 2012)

ADL: Poor diet/health and exercise

Interventions: Meal preparation group, nutrition/ healthy choices group, yoga class
IADL: Poor parenting skills, poor money management
Interventions: Role play parenting group, budget worksheet and discussion, money
management board game, teach another client a craft activity, barth time construct.
Education: Low education/skills/training level, attention/concentration
Interventions: Jewelry making, wood projects, reading assignment with group
discussion.
Work: Lack of employment, poor team work skills, lack of experience
Interventions: Assembly line projects, Interviewing practice, coffee shop work group
Play and leisure: lack of play and leisure outside of using substance
Interventions: Local leisure search worksheet with buddy and discussion, Painting
projects, Tai chi group
Social participation: Loss of connection with friends and family, poor social skills
outside of using substance, poor stress management/coping/emotional regulation
Interventions: Mindfulness meditation group and discussion, Group gardening to make
gifts, Party planning group.

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Culture and Substance abuse: Overall the effects of culture should always be taken into account
with any occupational therapy. In the case of substance abuse there should definitely be input
from the cultural community and family if available. In an article in the psychiatric times one
possible effect of culture listed is that a culture may have limited experience with a substance
and no cultural norm or strategy to deal with the behavior. (Abbott & Chase, 2008) For example,
when alcohol became available to the Native Americans or when opium was brought west. Also,
culture is what provides the ideas of what is acceptable use of a substance. In Native American
culture, peyote a highly controlled substance, was used to treat alcoholism, from a substance
freely accessible. Some substances which were once only used for ceremonial purposes or for
medicine are now available in mass quantities and used recreationally. As well, the loss of
cultural identity and cultural support can be a determining factor in susceptibility to substance
abuse. In treatment it can be important to have a cultural representation in the staff or in the
curriculum to help support different cultural identities. I personally agree when considering the
amount of isolation and depression someone with an addiction can be suffering from.

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References
Abbott, P., & Chase, D. M. (2008, January 1). Culture and Substance Abuse: Impact of Culture
Affects Approach to Treatment. Psychiatric Times.
AOTA. (2002). Overcoming Drug and Alcohol Abuse. AOTA inc.
Bullen, D. (Vol. 29, Issue 14). Occupational Therapists join the battle against substance abuse.
ADVANCE for Occupational Therapy Practitioners , p. 17.
Early, M. B. (2009). Mental Health Concepts and Techniques for the Occupational Therapy
Assistant. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Jacobs, K., & Simon, L. (2015). Quick Refernce Dictionary for Occupational Therapy.
Thorofare, NJ: SLACK incorporated.
McElroy, A. (2012, August 20). Housing First Meets Harm Reduction: Adapting Existing Social
Service Models to Help People with Addictions. OT Practice, pp. 6,8.
Pelquin, S. M., & Ciro, C. A. (2013). Self-Development Groups Amoung Women in Recovery:
Client Perceptions of Satisfaction and Engagement. AJOT, 82-90.
Watson, D. E., & Wilson, S. A. (2003). Task Analysis: An Individual and Population Approach.
Bethesda, MD: The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.

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