US Attorney Assembles Group To Address Growing Problem Of Opiate Overdoses
“I've been in the field over 30 years in western Pennsylvania, and at this time, the problem with prescription drug abuse, heroin addiction and drug overdose deaths have never been worse in our community,” said group co-chair Nick Capretto …
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Drug debate: Will punishing women who take drugs while pregnant help, hurt or …
They believe mothers worried about criminal charges are more likely to avoid addiction treatment or prenatal care, and unlikely to seek treatment for infants suffering from the symptoms of drug dependency. Some may leave the state or seek abortions to …
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Addicted to Profits: Insurance companies adjust coverage of methadone clinics
“Substance abuse requires comprehensive approaches that include prevention, intervention and treatment. But if we can get these unneeded drugs out of our neighborhoods, we will be taking a step in the right direction.” Yet, amid this opiate epidemic, …
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'Treatment, not punishment'
The Asian Harm Reduction Network Myanmar office was established in July 2003 under a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Home Affairs' Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control. The AHRN, which now works in cooperation with the Ministry of …
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The good and the bad about Elevation Church.
“I was once a drug addict and this church has cleansed me for the better.” She elaborated, “No matter what your past, Furtick says to bring the … church and everything members receive costs money. It's expensive. I know all the funds go to support …
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Police warn businesses of increase in drug-related shoplifting
… them for money or trading them for drugs. Earlier this month, a man was arrested after he walked out of Kitz and Pfeil True Value Hardware with more than $ 500 worth of copper wire, which he stole to resell in order to support his heroin addiction …
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Prescription Drug Abuse Increases on US Campuses
Nationally, the types of prescription drugs most commonly abused are pain pills, muscle relaxers, anti-anxiety medication and stimulants, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The most common prescription drugs abused are Vicodin …
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Bridging Medicaid's medical and behavioral care chasm
On April 1, the Mercy Care Plan, under contract with the state of Arizona, started coordinating medical treatment with behavioral care and substance-abuse services for Medicaid beneficiaries in the Phoenix area who suffer from serious mental illness …
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Four running for probate/juvenile judge
I've handled all kinds of cases, from felony rape down to DUI and real estate transaction, but I'm drawn toward juvenile and probate cases. I see that the …. Probably 90 percent of the juvenile court cases can be traced back to substance abuse in the …
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Roanoke teens' STD rate higher than state average
If you see your kid's mood drastically changing, that's a red flag for so many things — mental health illness, substance abuse and sexual activity.” Health department STD testing … “I'm eight feet away from you,” the man types into his phone. “Let's …
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Passages Malibu Releases Statement on the Benefits of Natural Sleep
"At Passages, we have a well rounded treatment program," said Pax Prentiss, CEO of Passages Addiction Treatment Centers. "Our treatment team provides the most one-on-one therapy of any other rehab center, which allows our clients to return to their …
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by Vancouver Coastal Health

Hollywood Star Donates to Local Rehab Center
The organization has inpatient and outpatient treatment centers in the Philadelphia region, including Bensalem, Center City, Northeast Philadelphia, Doylestown, Fort Washington, Haverford, Langhorne, and Levittown. Also on NBC10.com: Pa. Company …
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'Ex-terrorists' in Saudi Arabia find peace through rehab
That comes on top of an expansion of what are called “Terrorist rehab centers.” One of those centers, The Mohammed bin Naif Counseling and Care Center, is located on the dusty outskirts of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. It's housed in a walled compound …
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by Eric Fischer

Question by ebizartistry: For substance abuse counselors…Question about your profession.?
What are some of the ethical issues in your profession of dealing and working with involuntary clients? Complete explanations are most desired as I am doing some research on issues in your profession. Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by michele
One major problem with involuntary/court-ordered clients involves the issue of informed consent. If a client is compelled to attend treatment, “informed consent” becomes a moot point. Theoretically (and ethically) this shouldn’t happen. When treatment is not voluntary, informed consent becomes an incredibly sticky area.

Another issue with court-ordered clients involves the definition of WHO , precisely, is the client. Oftentimes, it is not the person receiving services who is actually paying for it. In the eyes of some therapists, that makes the payor (i.e., the state, the prison system, department of children’s services, etc) the “client”, and puts the therapist squarely in a CONSULTANT role.

Confidentiality (or lack thereof) represents yet another ethical dilemma with court-ordered clients. If is often the case that reports must be made to the state (or the agency compelling the person to be in treatment) regarding treatment progress, etc. In voluntary situations, this information could only be revealed IF the client signs a release form. In the case of involuntary clients, some therapists believe that such reports constitute a (required) confidentiality breach.

Finally, the bottom line, is that many non-voluntary clients do not want to be in therapy. Many will refuse to actively participate in therapy. Therefore, in many cases, precious little therapeutic progress will be made. This nets yet another ethical quandary, in that psychologists are ethically bound to discontinue treatment with clients who are clearly not making progress in therapy.

Best of luck in your research,
~M~

Wellbutrin Addiction and Wellbutrin Abuse – http://drugstrategies.org/Treatment Wellbutrin Addiction & Wellbutrin Abuse – Discover the best substance abuse treatment for you – call our recovery helpline 800-303-2938 24 hours a day. …

Approaches You Don't Know About for Helping Someone With Substance Abuse
As a psychologist working in the field of substance abuse treatment, I am in direct contact with families every day with a full range of serious problems. I know that substance abuse problems vary in terms of severity, fright and heartbreak, and yet I …
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Mindfulness Therapy May Help Prevent Substance–Abuse Relapse in Long Term
They found that cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention (RP) and mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) are both effective aftercare interventions following substance abuse treatment, but that the latter may have a more enduring effect. The study …
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Drug abuse treatment clinic asked to close doors
"The clinic is in violation of zoning ordinance because it's a substance abuse clinic," Phillips said. "Those clinics are only allowed in the M-1 zone, which is light industrial but the location of the clinic is in the B-3 arterial business district …
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Haslam receives petition asking for veto of bill criminalizing prenatal drug use
Allison Glass discusses her position to the Governor's representative, Don Johnson, as she and other reproductive rights representatives delivered a petition with 10,000 signatures to the office of Gov. Bill Haslam Friday April 25, 2014, in Nashville …
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Chris Herren, Running For Drug Abuse Prevention, Finishes Marathon
Chris Herren, a former basketball star whose drug use sent his life spiraling out of control, has been sober for more than five and a half years and has become a prominent figure in combating drug use and providing help for addicts. He also completed …
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