by nogger

Question by Danyel: What type of education would I need to become an RN at a substance abuse detox facility?
I am currently going to school for pre-health with a nursing concentration, until I have the requirements to apply for nursing. I would like to be able to work as an RN in a substance abuse facility. I was wondering if anyone could give me any advise as to how to go about doing this? I do not know if I will need to specialize in a certain area in order to do so or not? If anyone could help me out in regards to what to do education wise I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by MeMeMe
Hi,

First off, good for you for wanting to work in addiction treatment! I’m an addictions counselor and have been working in mental health (mostly suicide prevention) for 7 years and we certainly need more qualified RNs in the field. So I think you will have an easy time finding work once you’re finished with school.

As for your question… To become an RN, you need to go to nursing school. Although I’m sure you already know this. As for specializing in addiction treatment, I don’t believe there are any additional requirements, but it would be good if you have experience working with addicts or at least a greater knowledge of treating clients with addiction. So I would suggest trying to get an internship of some sort with a treatment center in your area. They may not let you do much while you’re in school, but you will be able to put it on your resume. You can learn a lot from observing how things work in treatment. The other suggestion I have would be to take some extra classes that focus on substance abuse. Drug addicts and alcoholics face a variety of special issues separate from the “normal” population you would be working with in a hospital. Most community colleges and some universities now offer programs where you can learn more about these issues. I don’t know where you live, but you may want to start looking for college programs titled “Addictions Counseling” or “Addictions Studies.” Classes you may want to take would be any type of pharmacology, a bloodborne pathogens/infectious disease class, and even alternative treatments to addiction classes. It could also help to take a few classes for addictions counselors like group therapy, individual therapy, or something similar. These will definitely help you in the future in terms of communicating with your clients.

The most important thing I would think an RN working in addiction should have to be educated about is prescription drugs of abuse. Normally when I do an intake on a client coming into treatment, they have been medically prescribed multiple addictive drugs that only contribute to and exacerbate their disease (addiction). Usually these include opiate painkillers, benzodiazepines, and other sedatives and tranquilizers. I had a client once who was on NINE different benzos which she had been on for years, all prescribed by doctors for things like insomnia, anxiety, and even hypothyroidism. This is so egregious and disgusting to me! They were killing her. She obviously had to be medically detoxed for risk of seizures and death from her meds. And needless to say, after being evaluated by our MD, she didn’t NEED any of the pills.

Anyway, I’m rambling. Just excited to see someone wanting to help in the field of addiction treatment. It is rare these days, it seems. But what a satisfying and rewarding job. Good luck to you!!!

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Question by [annie]: Do you think drug addicts are starting to catch on…?
…to the fact that the “documentary about addiction” they’re contributing to is actually Intervention?
touche to the both of you 🙂

Best answer:

Answer by Laurbie
I’ve wondered about that too! I think that they are to out of it. Also, alot of them have sold their TVs for dope, so they haven’t seen the show.

Answer by Sarah
ive been wondering that.

but i think usually the drug addicts are more interested in getting more drugs than what is on Monday nights.

lol

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Question by : Alexia entered the inpatient treatment program where you are a chemical dependency counselor. She stated that?
Alexia entered the inpatient treatment program where you are a chemical dependency counselor. She stated that she needs help for drug addiction and possibly alcoholism. She is a 32-year-old, divorced, Caucasian woman, employed as an administrative assistant at a local human services program. She lives with her 11-year-old daughter, Christine, in an apartment located near her job. Although she makes a relatively low salary, Alexia has managed to support herself and her daughter without financial support from Christine’s father. Alexia was married briefly to Christine’s father when she was 20, but left him after he became physically and sexually abusive toward her. He was also an alcoholic. Until recently, she had almost no contact with him for many years. Her widowed mother is a strong support for Alexia and Christine, as are two cousins, Denise and Moira. Alexia reports growing up in a “normal middle class family” and states that her childhood was “good” despite her father’s occasional drinking binges. She is the youngest of five children and the only girl. Alexia reports having little pleasure in life and feeling tired and “dragging” all of the time. She tells you that her difficulty in standing up for herself with her boss at work is a constant stress orShe reports to having tried AA two years ago, but wasn’t able to stay sober for more than six months. She began drinking regularly (several times a week) around the age of 13. She recalls having felt depressed around the same time that she began drinking heavily, although she states she has very few clear memories of that time in her life. Alexia’s drinking became progressively worse over the years, although she did not begin to see it as a problem until after she began using crack cocaine, at around age 28. She reports feeling depressed over much of her adult life; however, her depression got much worse after she began using crack daily. She feels hopeless about her ability to put her life together, and is doubtful that she can achieve sobriety. alexis was recently raped by her drug dealer and his friend, which resulted in a broken jaw and one month’s absence from work. she tell you that she “only got what she deserved” for being in the wrong place with the wrong people at the wrong time. her ex-husband is trying to gain custody of her daughter now that he has been sober for two years. alexis hopes to get sober so she can fight this custody battle, and “be the mother her daughter deserves”.1) i want to know what is actually happening in this client’s life. 2) what must be addressed to improve the situation. 3) how would you asses this client and why. 4)what diagnosis would you give this client and what criteria are you basing this diagnosis on. 5) what treatment options would you recommend for this client and why? 6) what is your working hypothesis about this client’s problems with alcohol and drug issues
Edit

Best answer:

Answer by nickipettis
in no particular order

i suspect she was physically abused in childhood and sexually abused in puberty, 13 and later.
she has worked hard to not remember that.

I have NO idea how she can afford alcohol and drugs and support herself and her daughter on a “relatively low salary.” you should investigate whether she has been prostituting herself for drug money, or paying for her drugs with sex.

Anyone who says “they only got what they deserved” is being emotionally abused, even if there are no other factors. her drug dealer is keeping her dependent not just on drugs, but is lowering her self worth.

She may have started using drugs more seriously at 28?, when her daughter was 7 or 8. this may have triggered memories of her own abuse.

i think the first thing that has to be addressed is that she doesn’t think she CAN get sober.
If she doesn’t think she can get sober, then she certainly can not.

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by grenade

Drug Rehab Lebanon Updates Treatment Methods to Better Prevent Relapse
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