Polygraphs have traditionally been used in criminal defense to nail perpetrators and exonerate innocent victims. However, these exams have since been adopted into other sectors to reinforce ethical behaviors.
Addiction treatment is one of the latest fields to incorporate polygraph tests.
Lie detector evaluations are administered to recovering addicts to help assess the progress with their recovery, gauge the efficacy of therapy programs, and reestablish broken trust for patients struggling with relationship-crippling addictions like pornography. Therapists may also leverage the findings from polygraph tests to foster accountability among recovering addicts.
Read below as we dissect the role of polygraphs in supporting addiction recovery.
Common Applications of Polygraphs in Addiction Treatment
Polygraph evaluations are commonly used in drug and alcohol addiction centers to monitor progress among recovering addicts. By administering regular lie detector tests, therapists can establish whether patients are keeping up with their treatment plans and how those programs are impacting their recovery
Besides helping to manage substance abuse, you may also encounter a polygraph test in other therapeutic settings, including sex addiction and pornography. Couples whose relationships are riddled by allegations of sexual addiction can submit to polygraph evaluations as a critical step in addressing their relationship woes.
Using Polygraphs to Reinforce Accountability
Maintaining truthfulness is a critical requirement of any successful abstinence or recovery program. Sadly, patients may deliberately lie about accomplishing certain sobriety milestones to avoid being subjected to more stringent abstinence programs.
Polygraph testing is designed to foster truthfulness among recovery patients, providing an accurate picture of the efficacy of a treatment plan. It allows therapists to verify the authenticity of all claims made by a recovering addict.
Using polygraphs in addiction treatment may also discourage compulsive liars. Patients with a natural tendency to stretch the truth will be discouraged from lying if they know that routine polygraphs are part of their recovery program.
Moreover, scheduling polygraph tests regularly can foster individual accountability by dissuading would-be subjects from engaging in undesirable behaviors. If polygraph exams are potentially administered, say, quarterly, patients would steer clear of their addictions for at least one month leading up to the test date.
Other Critical Roles of Polygraphs in Addiction Treatment
1. Relapse Detection
Statistics indicate that up to 58% of people treated for substance abuse relapse within two to three months. By subjecting their patients to regular polygraph tests, substance abuse therapists can uncover early warning signs of relapse and implement timely interventions.
2. Positive Motivation
Recovering addicts require a dose of motivation to stay on the path to full abstinence. The desire to pass a forthcoming polygraph test can motivate an addict to stay sober and focus on their ultimate recovery.
3. Treatment Planning
Findings from polygraph tests can offer insights into the efficacy of ongoing addiction treatments. It allows therapists to understand patients’ triggers and tailor each treatment program to their needs.
4. Rebuilding Trust
Polygraphs may help resolve suspicions about substance abuse or sexual infidelity. The test results can provide closure and kick-start rebuilding a fractured relationship.
Case Study on the Efficacy of Polygraphs in Addiction Treatment
A case study investigating the role of polygraphs in addiction treatments involved polygraphing two employees who were accused of substance abuse.
Suspicions began to flare when janitors discovered a packet containing traces of a white powdery substance in the men’s bathrooms. The fact that only the two employees were on duty during this discovery only fueled suspicion about their potential use of scheduled drugs at the workplace.
The men were initially questioned about the incident, which they both denied. However, the matter was finally resolved when the suspects failed subsequent polygraph and urine tests.
Managing the Frequency and Accuracy of Polygraphs in Addiction Treatment
It’s intuitive for therapists to administer polygraph tests to their patients at the slightest opportunity available. However, the concept of “habituation” dictates that the efficacy of polygraphs reduces if multiple exams are taken closer together.
The conventional wisdom is to administer polygraph tests once or twice annually, and not more than once every three months.
It’s also important to have all polygraphs conducted by an experienced examiner.
Choose an individual who graduated from an accredited polygraph school. It’s even better if your preferred polygrapher is affiliated with reputable polygraph organizations.
To further enhance the accuracy of polygraph testing, recovery patients must be prepared for each exam by subjecting them to a pre-test phase. During this phase, a polygrapher will establish a rapport with the patient and discuss the forthcoming exam with them. The examinee must willfully consent to being polygraphed for the findings to be deemed valid.
Moreover, there must be a post-test phase, during which an examinee can explain their responses before a polygrapher prepares the final report.
Tapping Into Polygraph Tests to Accelerate Addiction Recovery
Administering polygraph tests can help foster accountability among recovering addicts, which is critical in accelerating healing from substance abuse.
Polygraph exams may also enable therapists to uncover and address signs of relapse, keeping their patients firmly on the road to recovery. Besides, findings from these evaluations may be useful in tailoring treatments for each patient.
The best part about using polygraphs in therapy is that they can be administered in various settings, including drug-related therapies, sexual addiction, and relationship counseling.
