Funding cuts to drug treatment centers mean addicts get turned away
DURHAM — Jeff Stillers' addiction to alcohol has landed him in emergency rooms, clinics and halfway houses; 20 times he's gone through about a week of detox at the state's expense since he lost his home, wife and kids 13 years ago to his alcoholism.
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Rehab facility in jail for addict inmates
Notorious for rampant drug smuggling and housing thousands of addicts, Punjab jails will have drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres besides separate cells for criminals of different leagues and 'panchayats of inmates'. These are among the slew …
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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 ma_audio_tercel: Liberty Mutual Workers Idaho Workers Comp?
My husband was in a terrible accident while working. What I want to know is if anybody has had Dr. Friedman as thier doctor and there experiance as him for their workerscomp doctor. Did you by chance go to the famous Elk Rehabilitation Center what was your outcome? What about your personal dealings with Liberty Mutual thereselves. Does anybody Know Monte Whitter the lawyer for Liberty Mutual. I would like to get peoples real life stories out there. I am starting hear first. If anybody would like to share a personal story with me you can reach me at [email protected]. I am desperate to hear your personal stories. I need to find answers for all people who think workers comp is fair or unfair. I need to know your injury and what happened in turn I will share my families. How many people have been turned away because they were called “drug addicts”
agent 1 have you ever been hurt on the job?
Meaning drug addicts because you were a chronic pain patient.

Best answer:

Answer by Agent Smith
LM is one of the better companies out there.

Any insurance company, however, will only pay what is legally required of them. No more, no less.

Your best bet is consult with an attorney.

Good luck.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

by FaceMePLS

Question by candigal: What comes to mind when you think of a “drug addict”?
Are “drug addicts ” bad people? Is drug use a choice? What is the eccomomic status of most people who use drug? What are some of the names people have for drug addicts? Do you think treatment works? How are “addicts” different then “non-addicts”? This is for an essay I am writing. Thanks for your help. Also do you think that there is a certain eithnic group that has a higher rate of substance abuse?

Best answer:

Answer by Hell’s Own Harlot
Drug addicts are not necessarily bad people. They lack self control and are under a notion that what they want must be gratified RIGHT NOW. They lack any type of concern for how their behavior effects others and personally, I consider it a slow suicide. Treatment only works if you want it to. You have to be motivated and most drug users aren’t. There are not any particular ethnic groups that are more prone to use than any other. You have losers in every race of people.

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At Gerard Place, wayward women find a haven for restoring their souls
He has heard the horror stories: Relatives selling their younger female family members into prostitution. Drugs and alcohol addiction taking over their lives. And, finally, when the women are no longer marketable for the sex trade, ending up homeless …
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All in the Family
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Digital addiction: Is it real or a symptom of other problems?
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That 70s Show Star Lisa Robin Kelly Dead At 43
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Lindsay Lohan Comes Clean to Oprah & More Addiction Tell-Alls (Video)
The actress began doing cocaine at age 13 and was checked into rehab for drug addiction by the next year. While her rebelliousness continued, Barrymore got sober and wrote an autobiography recounting this period in her life, Little Girl Lost. Success …
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To Reduce Overdose Deaths, Report Calls for More Drug Abuse Treatment
An important new report states that there is a lack of available treatment for heroin and prescription drug abuse. Fortunately, there are a few certified drug treatment centers such as South Florida's Harbor Village where abusers can seek the …
Read more on San Francisco Chronicle (press release)