EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY IN TREATING STUDENTS' ADDICTIONS: APPLICATION IN UKRAINE DURING WARTIME
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.28925/2412-0774.2025.3.4Keywords:
cognitive behavior therapy, cognitive reappraisal, cognitive restructuring, motivational enhancement, motivational intervention, skills training, relapse prevention, students.Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) remain a pressing global public health challenge, with students constituting a particularly vulnerable group due to academic stress, social influence, and limited access to mental health services. In Ukraine, these challenges have been magnified by the ongoing war, which has disrupted healthcare infrastructure, displaced populations, and heightened psychological distress. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for treating alcohol and other drug use disorders among higher education students, in resource-limited and unstable contexts such as wartime Ukraine. CBT interventions, including motivational enhancement, contingency management, relapse prevention, cognitive restructuring, and skills training, have consistently demonstrated positive outcomes in promoting abstinence, reducing cravings, and improving psychosocial functioning. However, implementation in Ukraine is hindered by barriers such as limited infrastructure, shortages of trained professionals, and persistent stigma surrounding addiction and mental health care. A case example is presented illustrating the application of CBT with a Ukrainian university student struggling with alcohol dependence amid wartime. The case highlights the role of identifying cognitive distortions/irrational beliefs, developing robust coping strategies, and strengthening social support to sustain recovery. The paper concludes with recommendations for culturally adapting and scaling CBT interventions in Ukraine, emphasizing workforce development, the integration of motivational interviewing, digital delivery of therapy, and systemic support to ensure sustainability and accessibility for students affected by war-related stressors. The review concludes with recommendations for culturally adapting and scaling CBT interventions in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for workforce development, integrating motivational interviewing strategies, and providing systemic support for the sustainable implementation of interventions and accessibility for students affected by war-related stressors
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