Apoyo para la Adicción

Addiction support for substance use and behavioural addictions

Addiction support can help when alcohol, drugs, medication or a repeated behaviour is becoming difficult to control. You do not need to identify as “an addict” or wait for a crisis before asking for help. Early support can clarify what is happening, reduce harm and identify realistic next steps.

Addiction is not a failure of willpower. Biological, psychological and social factors can all contribute. What begins as relief, stimulation or escape may gradually lead to cravings, secrecy, withdrawal symptoms, financial pressure, relationship difficulties or problems with physical and mental health.

Signs that addiction support may be useful

Consider seeking a professional assessment if you recognise one or more of the following:

• using or engaging in the behaviour more often, for longer or in larger amounts than intended;
• repeated attempts to cut down or stop that have not lasted;
• strong cravings, preoccupation or a growing loss of control;
• needing more of a substance or activity to obtain the same effect;
• feeling unwell when reducing or stopping a substance;
• continuing despite harm to your health, work, studies, finances or relationships;
• hiding the extent of the behaviour or feeling caught in a cycle of shame and secrecy;
• using substances or behaviours to cope with trauma, anxiety, depression, loneliness or chronic stress;
• returning to use after a period of change and wanting help to understand what happened.

Substance use disorders, physical dependence and behavioural disorders are not interchangeable. Physical dependence can occur with alcohol or prescribed medicines even when a person does not identify with addiction. A thorough assessment should consider the substance or behaviour, loss of control, functional impairment, frequency and amount, physical health, mental health, medication, previous withdrawal, overdose risk, available support and immediate safety.

How psychological support can help

Therapy can form one part of a wider addiction treatment or recovery plan. It may help you:

• understand triggers, cravings and the short- and long-term consequences of use;
• explore ambivalence about reducing, stopping or changing a behaviour;
• develop alternatives for managing distress, boredom, conflict or social pressure;
• prepare for high-risk situations and respond constructively to lapses;
• address related trauma, anxiety, depression or relationship difficulties;
• rebuild routines, support networks and goals that make recovery more sustainable.

A lapse does not erase earlier progress. It can be reviewed without blame to identify warning signs, unmet needs and changes that may make the plan safer and more effective. After a period of reduced or no opioid use, tolerance may fall and returning to a previous dose can cause an overdose. Combining opioids with alcohol or benzodiazepines also increases overdose risk.

Recovery goals should be individualised. Depending on the substance, severity and medical risk, complete abstinence may be the safest goal; in other circumstances, a specialist may support a harm-reduction plan.

Therapeutic approaches used in addiction support

There is no single approach that suits everyone. Depending on an individual assessment and the qualified professional’s training, treatment may draw on motivational approaches to explore readiness for change, cognitive and behavioural strategies for triggers and relapse prevention, or therapies that address emotional regulation and trauma.

Approaches may include Asesoramiento sobre adicciones, Entrevista motivacional y Terapia cognitivo-conductual (TCC). If trauma is relevant, trauma-focused treatment should follow an appropriate assessment rather than being assumed from substance use alone.

For some people, psychological therapy is combined with medical care, medication, a specialist alcohol or drug service, residential treatment, peer support or practical help with housing, work and finances. The appropriate combination depends on need, risk, preference and what is available where you live.

Support for different substances and behaviours

Patterns that look similar on the surface can require different assessments and treatment. Different presentations include trastorno por consumo de alcohol, trastorno por uso de sustancias, cannabis dependence, gambling-related harm and problematic gaming.

Not every frequent or unwanted behaviour is a recognised addiction diagnosis. Enjoying gaming, gambling or sexual activity does not by itself mean that someone has a disorder. Some people search for “porn addiction”; a qualified professional may instead assess problematic pornography use or compulsive sexual behaviour. Assessment should consider distress, loss of control, impairment, risk and alternative explanations rather than applying a label automatically.

What happens in a first appointment?

A first appointment usually explores what you use or do, how often, what function it serves, its effects on daily life, previous attempts to change and what you would like to be different. The qualified professional should also ask about physical and mental health, prescribed medication, withdrawal or overdose history, current risk and other services involved in your care.

Confidentiality and its limits should be explained, including circumstances involving serious and immediate safety concerns or legal duties. After assessment, the professional should be clear about what they can provide and whether medical or specialist addiction care is also needed.

Support for family members and partners

Addiction can affect partners, relatives and friends as well as the person using a substance or engaging in the behaviour. Loved ones may need support with stress, boundaries, communication and their own wellbeing. They cannot control another person’s recovery, but they can obtain guidance for themselves and consider what is safe and sustainable.

Frequently asked questions about addiction support