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 Amanda: What can Percocet abuse do to your baby during pregnancy?
A girl I know is due in August and has been abusing the pills before she found out and ever since she found out. She has been taking 5-8 a day. The doctor supposedly tells her everything looks/sounds good but I’m doubtful. Could something be wrong with her baby when it’s born? Thanks for any answers. She also has not told her doctor about her substance abuse.
Could the doctor be able to tell anything is wrong through listening to the heart beat? Or any ultrasounds? It’s not fair to make your baby suffer while you get high.

Best answer:

Answer by ladystang
birth defects up to death

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Question by Cancerbeater: How To obtain a “CSAC”.Certified Substance Abuse Counselor” accreditation?
I am wanting to get my certification to work in the “Substance Abuse” field. I am slowing dying from having had throat cancr and I also have Lung Disease to go with it.
This is more important to me than life. I Need help !!
I live in Atlanta and will go home to Roanoke, Va to work when completed. It use to be in some states, if you could pass the test, you got your accreditation. That easy !! But where and how do I start now, being on a limited time schedule ????

Best answer:

Answer by allen e
In most states it is required that you can show that you have the experience working under another CSAC before you are allowed to sit for the test. The average is about 2 years as a helper under supervision and a bit of classroom learning as well, CEU’s showing that you have had exposure to the various aspects of the job here in my state it is 149 CEU’s on the various parts and an additional 9 on ethics.

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