Support group therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder

The Sumithrayo Drug Demand Reduction Programme (Mel Medura) has been in the forefront of supporting people struggling with all types of addictions since 1986. Realising the benefits of group support, Mel Medura is now facilitating support group sessions for those struggling with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD - problem drinking that has become severe).

This free service will include eight sessions for each group which will be facilitated by trained Mel Medura key-workers. Those interested will have to request for a registration form which needs to be filled and handed over for evaluation before acceptance to a group.

JomoUduman, Honorary Director of Mel Medura explained that, "People with AUD generally blame outside forces for their situation.  Everything is someone else’s fault. If their job is at stake it’s because their boss is picking on them. If their marriage is cracking up, their spouse is unreasonable. If they fail as parents they will see their children as ungrateful. Everything and everyone becomes a reason to drink. A person with this disorder may even say that they don’t wish to drink but circumstances like their employment/spouse/kids force them to."

Important topics that will be discussed in the support group sessions include family relationships and peer pressure, cultural and social influences, health and wellbeing, financial management, maintaining relationships, handling of responsibilities in family and workplace, thoughts, feelings and emotion handling, time management, handling withdrawal symptoms, preventing and addressing relapses.

AUD affects relationships and pushes people into increased isolation. In such a group experience, the clients meet other individuals who have faced similar problems and realise that they are not alone in life, that their pain is not exclusive and others with similar problems are willing to connect and support them. This helps them to move beyond their isolation, and it gives further energy to hope, which helps to fuel the process of change.

 “No one ever plans to become addicted. There are countless reasons why someone would try a substance or behaviour. Some are driven by curiosity and peer pressure, while others are looking for a way to relieve stress. Children who grow up in environments where drugs and alcohol are present have a greater risk of developing a substance abuse disorder down the road. The truth is, there’s no single face of addiction. Anyone can develop patterns of abuse or risky behaviours, no matter their age, culture or financial status,” Uduman explained.

In 2004 Sumithrayo shifted its in-house rehab to day-care which has since proved to be more successful during recovery and in preventing relapse.

A deeper understanding of AUD has been revolutionised by scientific breakthroughs. Addiction was once viewed as a moral failing or character flaw. Today it is recognised as a chronic relapsing brain disorder characterised by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. Just as cardiovascular disease damages the heart and diabetes impairs the pancreas, addiction hijacks the brain. This happens as the brain goes through a series of changes, beginning with recognition of pleasure and ending with a drive toward compulsive behaviour. AUD exerts a powerful influence on the brain that manifests in three distinct ways: craving for the object of addiction, loss of control over its use, and continuing involvement with it despite adverse consequences.

Addiction is not an inevitable result of substance use but depends on other factors too. A person's genetic makeup and other biological factors; the age of first use; psychological factors related to that person's personality; and environmental factors, such as availability, family and peer dynamics, financial resources, cultural norms, exposure to stress, and access to social support. Some of these factors increase risk for addiction, while other factors provide buffers against those risks. The speed of progression is different for each individual, and some fall deeper into the addiction before deciding to get help.

For more information contact, Mel Medura: 60, Horton Place, Colombo 7, phone: 11 2693 460 | 11 2694 665 or email: melmedura@sltnet.lk