ABSTRACT
Counselling for drug misuse problems is probably the most fundamental of the range of treatment options available to clients seeking help. Once a client becomes engaged in the network of care that is on offer from statutory or voluntary services it would be almost impossible for them not to be offered counselling. Many workers are ambivalent about some of the issues surrounding counselling clients taking prescribed medication, with opinions being at times strongly divided. For many workers and organisations there are issues in recognising the difference between using counselling skills and counselling. This can extend into confusion in distinguishing between the various ways of helping people. To put some framework around this a description is given of some of the theoretical and practical thinking from the worlds of counselling, behaviour change and drug use, and how these interrelate to help clients with a range of presenting problems.
