9^th International Conference on Addictive Disorders and Alcoholism June 17-18, 2019 Brisbane, Australia

Biography:

Dr. Steven Sek-yum Ngai is a Professor at the Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). His current research interests are in the areas of social exclusion and youth citizenship, mutual aid and youth empowerment, and service-learning and leadership development. In total, he has published over 140 articles on these areas. Since 2000, he has conducted 29 research projects funded by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council as well as government bureaus and NGOs in Hong Kong or Macau. Dr. Ngai received CUHK Research Excellence Award in 2011 and CUHK University Education Award in 2014.

Abstract:

Illicit drug use by youth has been a major concern in many societies because of its great health and social risks. As such, identification of key factors that enhance young people's realization of drug harm represents an important research direction for developing innovative and effective measures to reduce adolescent drug use. Given this consideration, the present study seeks to investigate the role of drug use history in moderating the effect of virtuous orientation on the realization of drug harm among youth. Available literature has indicated that strengthening virtuous orientation, including morally good traits that are learnable, will likely enhance young people's realization of drug harm. Moreover, previous research has shown that drug use history may trigger a cascading effect from cognitive impairment, decreased virtuous orientation to reduced realization of drug harm. This study recruited 169 at-risk youths who were drug users through two youth service agencies in Hong Kong, with a two-wave panel survey. The time interval between an initial and a follow-up survey was 6.6 months. Results show that Wave 2 virtuous orientation fostered Wave 2 realization of drug harm, controlling for Wave 1 realization of drug harm and demographic characteristics. Additionally, drug use history moderated the effect of virtuous orientation on realization of drug harm. For the youth with shorter drug use history, virtuous orientation significantly increased realization of drug harm. However, for those with longer drug use history, this positive effect was non-significant. These results encourage strengthening virtuous orientation to increase young people's realization of drug harm, particularly among those with shorter drug use history. 

Biography:

Jack is the founder of Psuche Education, Counseling & Coaching Services. He has served as a clinical counselor at MONARCH, the Executive Director at Clay Crossing, a faith-based co-occurring residential facility for men, Admissions Director at Rose Rock Recovery Center, a 48-bed residential facility serving women with co-occurring issues—a trauma specific model utilizing the Sanctuary Model. In his doctoral dissertation/project he integrated spirituality, human development theories and psychotherapy. Jack is creating The Together We Thrive program for the Ft. Gibson School District, a K-12 program designed to identify at risk children and develop initiatives to assist them. He has 30 plus years of professional experience from a broad range of experiences.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem

Adverse childhood experiences contribute to insecure attachments and difficulty regulating emotions, and a high-risk factor for addiction.  Emerging research, especially brain research and human development research, is advancing co-occurring counseling to a place where clients will have a better opportunity to thrive.  Based upon my studies and experience, I have come to believe we must address the underlying issues of addiction, often attachment disorders.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation

When considering what has been learned about the brain and “what works”, a new way of looking at addiction and recovery is needed.  Engaging clients from the perspective of loss, to include the absence of having personal/emotional needs met, and relationships is based upon the belief that a key to resetting the brain involves processing the impact of poor relationships. 

Findings

I work in a female residential facility for those struggling with co-occurring issues.  Invariably, at least 95% of those served present with abandonment issues, family systems void of emotional bonding, trauma that has destroyed trust, major losses, and a host of other issues that often result in self-medication.  The Detailed Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress was administered.  It, along with the interview, was consistent in demonstrating the issues previously outlined. 

Conclusion & Significance

It is this author’s opinion, along with many others, that more work is needed to help clinicians understand the problem, to develop evidence-based treatment models that have a strong sensitivity to the correlation of attachment disorders to substance misuse, and intentional early intervention models. Too often, persons with addiction issues are not provided appropriate treatment and insurance coverage, compared to treatment for other diseases.

Counselors, educators, department leaders, and political leaders have an obligation to bring addiction out of the darkness and treat those struggling with addiction with respect, affirm their personhood, and give them a hand up.

Biography:

Lisa Phillips is a researcher who has been practicing in the Health and Education sectors for over 15 years. As a registered educator and addiction practitioner, she began her career working alongside clients experiencing advanced dementia. This sparked an interest in the relationship between substance use and cognitive changes. Her experience includes speaking internationally on the impact of trauma on youth and young adults, as well as leading clinical and educational teams both nationally and regionally. With a special interest in ensuring the client remains at the center of practice, she supports the empowerment of people accessing healthcare support to be the core designers in their healthcare.
 

Abstract:

It is not a new concept for staff working in health fields to ‘care themselves into the ground’, however there is very limited information on the health outcomes for addiction practitioners specifically. Addiction practitioners often speak about feeling overworked, stressed and undervalued. At the same time, practitioners in these services speak about feeling rewarded by the meaning they glean from their work. This sense of meaning often does not provide the adhesive to be able to maintain a career in these fields. Delegates will learn the relationship between employment in addiction services and changes in health outcomes for practitioners. This presentation explains how addiction practitioners are impacted by their work – in terms of impacts on their connections with Whanau, culture, spirituality, self-identity and physical/mental wellbeing.

The audience will be presented with some striking data in terms of the coping mechanisms that practitioners develop to manage the mental load of their work. Recommendations to ensure their professional practice is sustainable, powerful and healthy will be provided, and the challenging data

will be balanced with inspiring opportunities for staff and services to support clients more effectively

Biography:

Narcie Faith Amista is currently a PhD Candidate in Public Health Department of Addiction Science Sahmyook University Graduate School.  Interest Areas: Addiction Counseling & Rehabilitation for Substance Use Disorders, Virtual Reality Therapy for Addiction Recovery, and Positive Psychology for Addiction Recovery. She has published  2 papers in reputed journals.  

Abstract:

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued the guidelines for the implementation of a Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Program (CBDRP) to address the needs of the Tokhang (a Visayan word “Toktok-Hangyo” meaning “knock and plead” where police officers make a polite request to affirmed drug users and pushers to surrender to the authorities, and be checked for further assessment) responders regarding treatment and rehabilitation in the Philippines.

Using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest with a control group design, this study evaluated the effectiveness of the CBDRP in regards to the impact on self-satisfaction with life, positive and negative effects, Stress Response, self-control and self-management, and recovery capital. Tokhang responders (N=60) participated in the study from June to August 2018, enrolled in the CBDRP (n=30; experimental group) with those of another group who had received no intervention (n= 30; control group).

Post-test results exhibited that the intervention group was more highly satisfied with life, increased positive effects and decreased negative effects, improved stress coping skills, increased self-control and self-management ability, and fostered substance addiction recovery than the control group. Overall, the CBDRP greatly affect the lives of the Tokhang responders. It is also about saving and improving the lives of the Tokhang responders as well as their affected loved ones. Recommendations for future research are discussed.