EMERGING
HORIZONS
’
facilitators often
begin training by
asking delegates to describe why they do the
job they do. Answers rarely deviate from
themes such as being naturally engaging, an
ability to build rapport, strengths in
communicating empathy and a genuine
desire to help.
These qualities are at the very heart of
conducting an effective assessment, one that
begins the non-judgemental process of
supporting individuals to establish values,
uncover strengths and build upon them.
Frequently, however, staff report that the
rushed box ticking, contract signing and form
filling required at first point of contact has
become professionally debilitating. It seems
widely accepted that therapeutic intervention
begins during the second appointment
(provided the client has come back).
Despite positive improvements across the
substance misuse sector, it seemingly
remains widely acknowledged that
traditional health and social care assessments
are too focused on deficits and inadequacies,
with some practitioners expressing concerns
that their deficit-based assessment
procedures may actually disempower and
intimidate those who have found the courage
to seek their help. Given the space to reflect,
delegates often also realise how
commonplace it has become for this crucial
first meeting to be facilitated in a room
‘decorated’ exclusively in posters threatening
certain death from overdose, HIV and
hepatitis, often precariously tacked next to
First impressions
they use the product, it will change the way
they view the world immediately, and that
they will be stress and problem free.
In the break-up of a relationship, even if
the decision to part was the right one, the
parties will continue to yearn for one
another, and the loss they experience will be
extreme. This could be said of the service
user’s relationship with substances, as they
will miss their drug of choice and experience
longing and desire as well as grief for the
loss. Cravings – the salesperson – will fully
understand this and will know how to target
those feelings, either blatantly or silently, to
keep selling the product.
When we help service users to look at
their relationship with a drug, it is
important to acknowledge the yearning
they may experience and the grieving
process they are going through. Rather
December 2015 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 9
Comment
More comment and opinion at
IT’S A FACT
that a craving has to strike
before a person uses drugs or alcohol, and
that’s why they can be terrifying for service
users. A common technique in dealing with
cravings is to distract the individual from
their desire to ‘use’. Yet, if someone avoids
something the result is often a sense of
fear, and from fear comes powerlessness.
The substance user must be able to face
their fear!
A craving is like a salesperson. Its
purpose is to sell the thought of using to
the customer and make it look attractive.
It sells the idea of pleasure and euphoria.
It doesn’t talk about comedowns, or any
other side effects, as that information
would get in the way of the pleasure. The
salesperson reminds the customer that if
A craving is the salesperson we can choose to ignore, says
Chris Robin
greyscale warnings of the latest bad batch of
heroin in local circulation.
Workers often report feeling pressured to
hurriedly collect meaningful and reliable data
on highly personal experiences such as sex
working, abuse and illegal behaviour. Some
staff have admitted during training that it was
not until they had built rapport with their
clients that they realised how much of the
information collected at point of assessment
was inaccurate.
Assessment protocols need to be
systematically reviewed, updated and
facilitated in a welcoming environment that
models recovery. The paperwork should be
designed as a tool to assist practitioners in
collaborating with their clients on the
development of a strength-based, person-
centred recovery plan. For this to happen, even
essential data capturing needs to be concise,
accessible and client-led, as well as designed
to focus on establishing recovery capital in
areas such as relationships, social pursuits and
life purpose.
Shahroo Izadi is development manager at
Emerging Horizons,
The pressure to collect data from new
clients should not replace essential
rapport, says
Shahroo Izadi
than distract them from these feelings,
give them permission to be honest about
the craving, so they can be aware of the
sales pitch that is being used on them.
This recognition will then inform the
craving that it has been exposed, so it will
have to become less blatant, more subtle,
more silent, more devious, to make the
sale. Again the worker’s job is to help the
service user to investigate these devious
cravings so they can understand their
sophistication.
Equipped with this information, the
service user then has the tools to
communicate with their cravings, stand up
to them and say: ‘I see you, I know your
agenda, and I am no longer afraid of you!’
Chris Robin offers treatment and training at
Janus Solutions,
A service user
will miss their
drug of choice
and experience
longing and
desire as well
as grief for the
loss.
‘It seemingly
remains widely
acknowledged
that traditional
health and
social care
assessments
are too focused
on deficits and
inadequacies.’
Cold Caller
