Resource & Discussion Guide
SECTION V – TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE
(Cue VHS to 1:02:00 or DVD to Chapter 5. This video clip begins with applause led by the drug court judge. The section ends with the comment: “Most young adults have gone through their money. What do we do for them? Leave them on the street?” (Video length: 7:30.)
Introduction
Drug abuse has a great economic impact on society – an estimated $67 billion per year. This figure includes costs related to crime, medical care, drug abuse treatment, social welfare programs, and time lost from work. Treatment of drug abuse can reduce those costs.
Lesson Objective
Drug addiction is a treatable disease, much like diabetes and heart disease. Through treatment tailored to each individual, patients learn to control their addictions and live normal, productive lives. Students will learn that drug addiction is a relapsing, yet treatable disease.
Activities
- When it comes to drug-abuse treatment programs, there is no one-size-fits-all. The methods are as varied as the individual and the period of recovery. Ask the students to research and report on a drug-treatment program or method.
Treatment methods may include short-term (residential therapy, medication therapy, and drug-free outpatient therapy); long-term (methadone maintenance, residential therapeutic community treatment; drug treatment programs in prison; treatment methods for women with children and 12 step programs.)
This Resource & Study Guide is also available as a PDF document suitable for printing. In addition, there is a supplemental document, Drug Definitions & Symptoms (print).
