Counseling often provides a meaningful intervention for those who are affected by the carelessness of substance abuse or the more frightening specter of dependence. In such cases counseling can add insight, support, and education and can help reduce symptoms that may trigger the use of psychoactive substances. Traditionally, substance related problems have been addressed by professionals using individual and family counseling as well as structured groups that combine both educational and psychological components. Community support groups of the client?s choosing are often encouraged as an adjunct to treatment. Counseling can serve to provide a critical external control factor as well as a generator for relevant insights to play a key role in helping substance affected individuals remain in control and accountable for their behavior. It is important to emphasize that often addiction is accompanied by other mental health problems that need to be diagnosed and treated, in order to give the addicted individual a better chance to recover.