Contributing Factors

 

Contributing Factors: Substance Use and Mental Health 
 WATCH COUNSELOR INTRO VIDEO
 

Intro – Although there can be a lot of similarities when it comes to each individual’s experience with substance use issues, every person’s journey is unique. Developing a problem with substances often involves a complex array of factors over the course of time. One well accepted definition of “addiction” supports this viewpoint:

 

Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.  - American Society of Addiction Medicine (2019)

 

This definition tells us that there are a variety of factors that contribute to the development of the disease of addiction. The same is true as well for most mental health disorders.

 

For this group exercise, group members will identify some contributing factors related to their own substance use (and mental health conditions as well, if applicable). Please keep this important point in mind:

 

Cause is extremely hard to determine. Since addiction can be complex and unique, it is not easy to simply say that one thing “caused” an addiction. This activity is for group members to discuss their own unique life’s journey and perspective rather than focusing on blaming one or two life circumstances as the “cause” of a substance use or mental health disorder. For example, if someone came from a dysfunctional family situation it would not be appropriate to conclude “My family caused my addiction.” Rather, for this activity, we will look at multiple types of life issues that may have been “contributing factors” rather than just one “cause”.

 

Directions: On a blank piece of paper, everyone in the group should make a “Contributing Factor Diagram.” An example is provided on the next page. To make the diagram, think of some factors that may have contributed to substance use issues in your life. If you also have mental health issues as well, you can consider those factors too. Write down each factor in a circle and label the circle. Make larger circles for contributing factors that you believe had larger impact and make smaller circles for less significant issues. You may add explanations for your contributing factors on your diagram (See example.) When everyone is done making their Contributing Factors Diagram, discuss your diagrams and then answer the process questions.

 

The following list are some known risk factors for addiction. You can use these if you want but also feel free to come up with your own or put things into your own words when you make your diagram:

 

ð       Family history of addiction

ð       Impulsive risk-taking personality from a young age

ð       Peer group who uses substances

ð       Learning to “self-medicate” mental health symptoms and stressors with substances.

ð       High tolerance (takes a lot to get intoxicated)

ð       Trauma (Victim of abuse or other distressing/disturbing experience(s))

ð       Social problems (Such as being bullied, difficulty making friends, loneliness, social anxiety)

ð       Difficulty managing stress, anger, or other feelings/emotions.

ð       Lack of positive role models

ð       Lack of support

ð       Financial stress/economic problems

ð       Unstructured life with poor parental oversight or supervision as child

ð       Exposure to substances (Others using in the home or in peer group – Especially at early age)

ð       Pain – Physical (injury/disability) or Emotional (Difficulty coping with past traumatic experience(s))

 

There are more, so come up with your own based on your own unique experiences and perspective.

Sample Contributing Factor Diagram

 

Emotional check in: How is everyone feeling after discussing these issues?

 

Process Questions:

 

How do you feel today knowing that you are making progress by putting these past situations behind you?

 

 

 

Sometimes terrible things happen for no good reason at all. Still, as we overcome negative experiences, we develop skills:  What are some skills that you have developed as you move forward in spite of past trauma?

 

 

 

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from trials. How have you bounced back from some of the challenging things in your past and how can you continue to display resilience in your life? What helps you?

 

 

 

What advice would you give others from what you have learned in your healing and recovering journey?

 

 

 

Now that you are working on making positive changes, specifically what are some things you are going to focus on moving forward to continue to make progress and put pain of the past behind you?

 

 

 

Check out – Is everyone prepared to close out this group? What is one positive take away from today?

www.takingtheescalator.com