A Guide for Frontline Workers - National Drug Strategy

APPROACH BENEFITS CONSIDERATIONS
Therapeutic community *provides high level of support, *there are different types of
structured program, and a
programs, people should look
non-drug using environment around if possible to find one
*teaches skills to make
that best suits them
long-term lifestyle changes *may be a waiting list
*usually cannot take children
Self-help groups *provides high level of mutual *recommended people attend at
(e.g. NA) support, social contact and least 3 meetings to see
understanding between members how suitable self-help groups
*easy to access, informal, free, can be for them
regular, ongoing
*can be part of any treatment plan
where goal is to stop using drugs
Counselling *can help with forming a treatment *finding supportive and
plan, reaching goals, and
understanding counsellor is
preventing relapse
very important
*links people to other support *works best for people who
services (e.g. accommodation, want counselling
employment)
*range of services available,
easy to access
*can make other treatments
(e.g. methadone, buprenorphine,
naltrexone) more effective
22