Jubinville: Judges must understand drug abuse
Recently, the state Department of Correction reported that just 972 inmates completed a substance abuse program out of a total prison population of 11,400. As a recently … That's money that can be, and should be, spent on treatment programs, not prisons.
Read more on MetroWest Daily News

Painkiller Addiction Treatment and Prescription Drug Rehab Announced
Recovery Associates is a drug and alcohol treatment center that provides a variety of programs and services for men, women and teens struggling with chemical dependency issues. At the core of their philosophy is the belief that addiction is a treatable …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

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!!!

Give your answer to this question below!

Families in Support of Treatment Rally with Anti-Drug Forum in Wantagh Tonight
(Long Island, NY) Long Island families impacted by addiction and concerned about their communities will join addiction treatment providers, community educators, law enforcement officials and dozens of community organizations to speak out at an anti …
Read more on Long Island Exchange

Help for local families dealing with drug addiction
Nearly a decade after it started in Randolph as a support group for families struggling with a relative's drug addiction, Learn to Cope is opening its first new suburban chapter on the South Shore. The new chapter, the 10th started by the organization …
Read more on The Patriot Ledger

Drug Rehab Center Into Action Treatment Invites Famous Miami Graffiti Artists …
Florida drug treatment center and addiction rehab facility, Into Action Treatment, invited 2 famous graffiti artists to their center to paint the back of their center. Into Action Treatment is a solution focused recovery center who instill art and …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

Cheap and Deadly: Use of New Drug “Sisa” Worries Officials
Recovery Associates is a drug and alcohol treatment center that provides a variety of programs and services for men, women and teens struggling with chemical dependency issues. At the core of their philosophy is the belief that addiction is a treatable …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

Avinza Addiction Treatment and Avinza Drug Rehab Center Announced
Recovery Associates is a drug and alcohol treatment center that provides a variety of programs and services for men, women and teens struggling with chemical dependency issues. At the core of their philosophy is the belief that Avinza addiction is a …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

http://www.CSWF.org/ Demerol Withdrawal & Demerol Detox. Call our recovery helpline 800-839-1682 24 hours a day. We’ll discuss the the best treatment options…
Video Rating: 0 / 5

http://drugrehabcenter.com – Cymbalta Addiction and Cymbalta Abuse – We can help you discover the best drug abuse & addiction treatment options for you – cal…
Video Rating: 4 / 5