The Role of Occupational Therapy in the Management of ...

1 Addiction Research and Medicine Review Article The Role of Occupational Therapy in the Management of recovery from substance Use Disorders (SUDs). Joydeep Dutta Chaudhuri College of Health Sciences, Husson University, Maine, USA. Abstract The incidence of substance use disorders (SUDs) is increasing rapidly and it is one of the major challenges in developed countries. The current treatments are limited considering the relatives ineffectiveness of medication and psychotherapy. Occupational Therapy (OT), with its client centered approach, has been relatively underutilized in the Management of SUDs.

2 This article aims to highlight the role of OT in the Management of SUD. Keywords: Pharmacotherapeutic, Occupational Therapy , enables these individuals to occupy themselves in a productive SUDs, Alcoholics anonymous, Narcotic anonymous manner. These activities typically evolve over time and describe the characteristics of that individual [7]. Introduction Role of Occupational Therapy for Management of A substance use disorders (SUD), is defined as a condition that develops in an individual following the recurrent use of SUDs alcohol and/or drugs leading to significant clinical and functional Though Occupational therapists have the requisite training impairment, and can be of mild, moderate, or severe intensities to play a crucial role in the Management of SUDs, they are [1].

3 The most common substance of abuse is alcohol, followed usually not part of most SUD treatment teams. It has been by cocaine/crack, marijuana/hashish, heroin, non-prescription reported that the number of Occupational therapists working methadone, and other opiates. Affected individuals often report in mental health institutions is decreasing, though in the early the inability to resist the impulse to use addictive substances 20th century OT was in the forefront of the modalities commonly despite the recognition of their deleterious effects [2]. The used to aid the recovery of wounded soldiers [8].

4 Thus, there is incidence of SUDs is steadily increasing and posing to be a an underutilization of the available skills and services of the OT. significant public health issue, along with the association with profession, and this article aims to provide a broad overview of drug-related crime, and loss of productivity. The functional and the potential of OT in the Management of SUDs. Occupational consequences of SUDs include negative impacts on the structure and function of the body and restrictions in From an OT perspective, a significant aspect of the personal activities and participation in life.

5 As the current options Management of SUDs is the rehabilitation of individuals during for the Management of SUDs have met with limited success [3,4] the recovery period, and prevention of relapse [1,4]. It has been and hence this article aims to highlight the role of Occupational shown that OT based interventions lead to better treatment Therapy (OT) in the Management of this condition. retention and lesser drug consumption in heavy users. This recovery process can only occur with reengagement in meaningful Current approaches for Management of SUDs and satisfying occupations to support the development of an The most common approach for the Management of SUDs identity that was previously dissociated from using drugs or has been by the use of pharmacotherapeutic agents, since the alcohol.

6 Trained Occupational therapists are uniquely positioned focus has been largely on reducing craving and decreasing the to assist people who are struggling to recover from SUDs, by length and duration of withdrawal symptoms [5]. However, these helping these individuals to reestablish the roles and identities approaches have been ineffective in the prevention of relapses most meaningful to them. Occupational therapists encourage which offers the most significant challenge in the Management clients to critically examine their daily routines and how their of SUDs. A number of psychosocial interventions have also been use of addictive substances has affected their ability to carry out explored for the Management of SUDs, but they have only shown meaningful tasks [9].

7 Modest short-term efficacy [6]. Considering the shortcomings of these approaches, Occupational Therapy (OT) offers a viable Management modality, *Corresponding author: Joydeep Dutta Chaudhuri, College of Health given its aim of assisting people in participating in the things Sciences, Husson University, Maine, USA, Tel: +207 852 8747; Fax: +207. they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of 973 1061; E-mail: everyday activities. The term occupation in OT is defined as Received: April 19, 2018; Accepted: June 25, 2018; Published: June 27, a goal directed activity that is self-motivated and over time 2018.

8 Addic Res Med, 2018; Volume 1, Issue 1 1. Citation: Chaudhuri JD (2018) The Role of Occupational Therapy in the Management of recovery from substance Use Disorders (SUDs). Effective Occupational Therapy approaches (AOTA). Moreover, since there is no uniform intervention for the Management of SUDs, the client centered approach based on It is beyond the scope of this article to describe specific dynamic interactions will lead to a better Management of SUDs. details regarding OT interventions that are most useful in the Management of SUDs. They have been excellently reviewed References by Stoffel and Moyers [11] and the OT based interventions 1.

9 MacLean RR, Sofuoglu M, Rosenheck R (2017) Tobacco and alcohol and the that have been shown to be most effective include use disorders: Evaluating multimorbidity. Addict Behav 78: 59-66. brief interventions, cognitive-behavioral Therapy , motivational [Pubmed]. strategies and step treatment programs [10]. Brief interventions are short sessions where the aim is to investigate a potential 2. Walker R (2015) substance Use Disorders, Evidence-Based Practices problem and motivate people to act upon it, while cognitive- and the Possible Nature of Deep Flaws. Subst Use Misuse 9: 956-963.

10 [Pubmed]. behavioral Therapy focusses on the development of successful coping behaviors necessary to reduce the risk of relapse. 3. Guttmannova K, Kosterman R, White HR, et al. (2017) The association Motivational strategies aim at identifying motivation of people to between regular marijuana use and adult mental health outcomes. change their behavior regarding the use of addictive substances. Drug Alcohol Depend 179: 109-116. [Pubmed]. The objective of step treatment programs, such as Alcoholics 4. Kunins HV (2015) Abuse-deterrent opioid formulations: part of a Anonymous (AA) and Narcotic Anonymous (NA), is to strengthen public health strategy to reverse the opioid epidemic.