RESUMO
The following paper will detail demographic information about alcohol and substance abuse issues in the acquired brain injury (ABI) population. Included in such a review will be a systematic presentation of the current data on the incidence of such issues as well as a comprehensive treatment model with outcome data provided. Pre- and post-test measures of separate functional outcome areas were employed to assess the effects of the treatment package. The paper will document the core elements of a substance abuse treatment programme that is based upon community inclusion and positive, proactive treatment methods in facilitating decreases in substance abuse behaviour. The programme employed a host of individual and group session protocols specifically targeted at education and self-monitoring of behaviour in order to facilitate more effective self-control of addictive behaviours. The positive outcomes achieved by the participants involved in the study provide clinical justification for a proactive behavioural approach to substance abuse in the ABI population.
