“I can quit whenever I want”. This has to be one of the most commonly heard defenses when someone is confronted about their substance use issues. Many people suffering from substance use disorders (SUD) do not think that they are addicted (often until it is too late), and this causes many to shun any attempts at seeking treatment. Additionally, many people who do recognize that they have a problem lack the motivation to change their behaviors for several reasons. Some feel that treatment is too expensive, too far away, or even only for people who have OD (overdosed).
In this blog, we will explore what MI is, how it works, and why it is effective for treating substance abuse.
What Is
Motivational Interviewing?
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a way of conversing with someone who wants to make positive changes in their life, such as quitting smoking, losing weight, or managing stress, but may have mixed feelings or doubts about it. MI helps the person explore their reasons for change, identify their goals, and develop an action plan they can stick to.
MI is especially useful for people who struggle with substance abuse, like alcohol addiction, tobacco, or other drugs, in that it can help them find motivation to quit, cope with cravings and triggers, and prevent relapse. MI can also improve their mental health and well-being, as well as their physical health and quality of life.
How Does
Motivational Interviewing Work?
MI follows four main steps: engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning.
- Engaging means building a trusting and respectful relationship with you.
- Focusing means finding a specific goal or direction for the change to center on.
- Evoking means drawing out your arguments and desires for change.
- Planning means developing a realistic and achievable action plan with you.
In Huntington Beach, several facilities and programs offer MI as part of their substance abuse treatment services. For example, California Addiction Treatment is one such center that helps clients overcome their addiction and achieve their recovery goals. They have trained and experienced MI practitioners who work with each client individually and collaboratively to help them resolve their ambivalence and increase their readiness, commitment, and confidence to change.
Some Recent Statistics
On Substance Abuse in Orange County
Substance abuse is a serious problem that affects many people’s health, well-being, and quality of life. Below are some statistics about substance abuse in Huntington Beach and Orange County that show the seriousness of the problem.
- The overall rate of drug and alcohol overdose deaths in Orange County increased by 82% since 2000. In 2020, there were over 13,000 emergency department visits, 6,600 hospitalizations, and over 1,000 deaths related to substance abuse.
- Alcohol and opioids were the most frequently involved substances in drug and alcohol-related deaths in Orange County. There was a 45% increase in the number of deaths involving opioids from 2019 to 2020, corresponding to the increased presence of fentanyl.
- Non-Hispanic whites consistently had the highest rates of mortality from drugs and alcohol, although those identified as other races (e.g., Alaska Native/American Indian, multi-race, or Other) nearly matched the rates of non-Hispanic whites from 2015.
- Males, compared to females, had the highest rates of mortality, as well as emergency department visits and hospitalizations, from drugs and alcohol.
- Geographically, the coastal ZIP Codes had the highest rates of mortality, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, from drugs and alcohol, for the three years spanning 2018 to 2020.
- Huntington Beach is not immune to the problems caused by substance abuse. There have been about 1,500 cases of opioid overdoses in the area since 2001. In the majority of cases, they happened to young adults or teenagers.
What Are
The Objectives And Steps Of Motivational Interviewing?
MI does not focus on telling you what to do or how to do it, but rather on listening to you and helping you find your solutions.
The main objectives of MI are to help you:
- Resolve your ambivalence and make you more receptive to change.
- Strengthen your commitment and confidence for change.
- Enhance your self-efficacy and coping skills for change.
Does
Insurance Cover Motivational Interviewing?
This will depend on your insurance provider, your plan, and the type of service you are seeking. MI may be covered by insurance when it is part of a formal rehab program or a mental health treatment plan, but it may be more difficult to secure coverage for MI when it is not part of a formal program. You should speak to your insurance company or use their online search tool to find out if they cover MI and under what conditions. You can also check with the MI provider or facility admissions team to see if they accept your insurance or offer other payment options.
What Are
The Benefits Of Motivational Interviewing?
MI is excellent at helping people realize that the power and determination to effect change in their lives comes from within them. They do not have to look for an outside source that can be flaky but rather rely on their passion and dedication to help them achieve the various goals that they have in mind.
Some of the benefits of MI are:
It empowers you to take charge of your change process. MI does not tell you what to do or how to do it, but rather supports and guides you to find your reasons and solutions for change. This way, you feel more confident and committed to your goals.
It builds a collaborative and respectful relationship between you and your counselor. MI is based on the idea that you are the expert on your own life and that the counselor is there to help you explore your options and potential outcomes. MI avoids confrontation, judgment, or pressure, and instead uses empathy, affirmation, and reflection to create a trusting and supportive environment.
It enhances your self-efficacy and coping skills. MI helps you identify and strengthen your existing abilities and resources to change. MI also helps you develop new skills and strategies to overcome barriers and challenges that may arise during the change process. MI also helps you cope with setbacks and relapses by encouraging you to learn from your experiences and to keep moving forward.
It increases the likelihood and effectiveness of behavior change. MI is effective for many kinds of behavior changes, whether you want to quit smoking, take up an exercise regimen, reduce your alcohol or drug use, eat healthier, manage stress, or improve your mental health. MI works by helping you resolve your ambivalence and increase your readiness, commitment, and confidence to change.
What Are
The Limitations Of Motivational Interviewing??
Motivational interviewing is a counseling method that is useful for people looking to make positive changes in their lives, but MI is not a perfect solution for everyone and every problem. Some of the limitations of MI are:
It may not work for clients who are not ready or willing to change. MI is based on the assumption that you have some degree of motivation to change, which can be enhanced through empathetic listening, reflective feedback, and evocative questioning. However, some clients may be in denial, resistant, or hostile to the idea of change, and may not respond well to MI techniques. MI does not have a specific strategy for dealing with such clients, and may even make their defensiveness or opposition worse.
It may not address the urgency or severity of the problem. MI is a client-centered and collaborative approach that respects your autonomy and pace of change. MI does not impose advice or directives on you, but rather supports and guides you to find your reasons and solutions for change. However, this may not be appropriate or effective for certain situations that require immediate or drastic action, like life-threatening addiction, severe mental illness, or impending legal consequences. MI may not convey the seriousness or the risks of the problem, and may not help you develop a concrete and realistic plan of action.
It may not address the external factors that influence the problem. MI focuses on the internal factors that affect your motivation and behavior, such as your values, beliefs, goals, and emotions. MI helps you identify and overcome the discrepancies between your current behavior and your desired outcomes. However, MI may not take into account the external factors that influence your behavior, such as your social, environmental, economic, or cultural circumstances. MI may not help you cope with the barriers or challenges that you face outside of the counseling session, such as peer pressure, family conflict, financial stress, or discrimination. It may also not provide you with the resources or support that you need to sustain the change.
California Addiction Treatment
Motivational Interviewing For Substance Abuse
California Addiction Treatment is a facility that offers MI as part of its substance abuse treatment services. MI is one of the most effective treatments for substance abuse, including alcohol use disorder, drug use disorder, and tobacco use disorder. MI can help you identify and address your reasons for using substances, develop a plan for quitting, and cope with cravings and triggers. California Addiction Treatment has a team of trained and experienced MI practitioners who work with each client individually and collaboratively to help them achieve their recovery goals. Contact us today to begin your journey to a more positive and joyful future free of addiction.
Dr. Deena Manion LCSW #20628, a Doctor of Psychology and Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1993, is the Co-Founder of California Addiction Treatment Center. She brings extensive experience in addiction and mental health from her previous roles at prominent recovery centers and her private practice in Los Angeles and Agoura Hills, CA. Dr. Deena has also appeared as an expert on Dr. Phil’s show and podcast, as well as various other TV programs and documentaries, sharing her expertise in mental health and addiction. Her goal is to leverage her clinical skills in the entertainment industry to reach a wider audience, making her a valuable asset in the field.
