According to the World Health Organisation, substance abuse refers to the consumption of psychoactive substances including alcohol and illicit drugs, leading to its addiction. This abuse also gives rise to certain cravings or strong desires to repeat the consumption and makes it easier for the person to persist in its use despite harmful consequences.
Institute of Urban Health Research of Northeastern University developed a new substance abuse treatment model for women. The model is known as the Boston Consortium Model (BCM) and is observed to be far more improved as compared to standard addiction treatment methods.
A different approach of this model includes the treatment of women who become victims of drug addiction and various mental health disorders. The approach also constructs a way to improve the mental and physical health of patients who suffer. The model becomes a different experience as it takes into account the patient’s experiences and various critical factors that led the patient to his/her addiction. Because of these factors, BCM gained the privilege of being a part of the official web site of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Women with addiction generally show experiences of childhood trauma which led them to start drug abuse. Therefore, Amaro, an associate dean, and professor in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences says,
“Women with drug addiction disorders have high rates of mental illness and a history of childhood and adult physical and sexual abuse, which are often both precursors to and consequences of drug abuse”
The participants showed instant recovery and long term benefits from this multi-directional approach which also covered behavioural and psychological treatment for addiction. There were fewer cases of post-traumatic stress which becomes a major problem during the recovery. The victim needs to keep his/her spirits high and try diligently to fight addiction without going back to it.
Akshara Palshetkar