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Hello,
I'm an occupational therapy student in Georgia (country) and I'm planning to focus on working with a community struggling with addiction for my final project. I'm seeking advice from experienced individuals who have expertise in this area.
I believe that occupational therapy can make a significant impact on the lives of those dealing with addiction, and I'm eager to learn from those with practical experience. Whether you've worked in clinical settings, community outreach programs, or any other context, your insights would be invaluable to me.
I have a few questions I'd love to hear your thoughts on:
What strategies or interventions have you found most effective when working with individuals facing addiction challenges?
Are there any unique challenges or considerations specific to this population that I should be aware of?
How do you go about building trust and rapport with these individuals and their families?
Do you have any recommendations for essential resources, tools, or training that have been particularly helpful in this field?
I truly appreciate your time and expertise in advance. Your contributions can help me make a meaningful impact during my final project and, in the future, in the lives of those we aim to assist.
Hello Nino. I'm an occupational therapist working a specialist community substance use service in Wales (UK). I've been in post for 18+ months now. I worked in substance use for years prior to my OT training. I'll do my best to answer your questions.
Strategies and interventions:
I have found the use of the 'model of human occupation' to be a good fit with assessing for an articulating the needs of service users. I use several of the assessment tools including role checklist, occupational self assessment and the OCAIRS.
I have also found the model of cognitive disability useful when working with service users with alcohol related brain damage (ARBD) when there is the need to assess their occupational performance.
Its also useful to try and view things through a 'sensory' lens as well.
A good understanding of the prevalence and impacts of stigma arising from addiction. I'd be really interested to know what/if there are any differences in culture and stigma.
Be trauma informed in your communication and approach to service users.
Challenges with population:
There are high rates of relapse as is widely known with addiction. This is a consequence of the addiction process on the brain, and the wider impacts on their social environment. Service users are often starting for a place of low personal causation (low belief in their abilities and skills to effect change in their life).
Don't under estimate the level of professional or institutional stigma when working with service users to overcome their addiction and dependency. People often cannot look beyond the behaviours.
Building rapport:
Being genuine, doing what you say you will. Often service users have seen a lot of workers, told their stories multiple times and are jaded by a new face. Take the time. One of the selling points of OT in this field is our genuine curiosity and interest in what makes someone them, through what they do.
Here's an article I wrote a year ago, reflecting my thoughts back then.
Drop me an email at jonathan.fisher2@wales.nhs.uk and I can share all the journal articles/evidence etc.
This is an exciting and interesting area for your final project.