Psychoeducation on Drug (Ab)Use

Psychoeducation (PE) is an intervention performed by a health professional and integrates in a synergic way educational and psychotherapeutic aspects. The focus of PE is on strengthening the health, collaboration, coping capacity, and empowerment of those affected. In this chapter, three aspects of psychoeducation are addressed: (1) psychoeducation on the general style of the initial approach, using the principles of motivational interview; (2) psychoeducation in substance use disorder (SUD) informed by neuroscience; and (3) psychoeducation in relapse prevention strategies and urge management. Psychoeducation will not be addressed as a strategy to prevent the use of substances, but as it is integrated into the treatment of people with SUD.