Posts Tagged ‘drug addicts’
Obama Drug Czar Wants Treatment and Arrests at the Same Time
That's the message that the Obama administration put forth today with its new drug strategy. But if you're expecting an end to the drug war, these policy changes aren't it. The plan focuses on treating drug addiction as a health problem, but it doesn't …
Read more on ABC News
State drug abuse, awareness chief says cost thwarts drug treatment
Pennsylvania is only able to adequately treat one out of every eight drug addicts because of a lack of money for treatment programs, says the newly minted secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Gary Tennis, a former prosecutor in the …
Read more on Tribune-Review
Inmates not always treated for addiction, mental illness
Mentally ill inmates with drug addictions seeking help for their illnesses often are turned away from treatment because of their substance abuse problem and vice versa, Jungel said. When substance abuse counselors turn away drug addicts because of …
Read more on Grand Rapids Business Journal (subscription)
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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The Voices of Integrity
These few pages are the beginning of the story of my lifelong involvement and efforts to help those afflicted with the disease and associated lifestyle of drug and alcohol addiction. … Family[1], Self Help and Mutual Help are at the very the Core of …
Read more on NJ.com (blog)
Mom Who Lost Son To Drugs: 'I Tried To Love the Demons Out Of Him'
Eventually, her son started stealing to support his habit, Lombardo said; he began hanging out in heroin dens, where a dealer would have guns, and addicts would go to snort or inject the drug and get high. "You have no idea what's out there," she said.
Read more on Patch.com
Bulletin Board – Sioux City Journal
Arc of Woodbury County, serving the mentally challenged, 5:15 p.m. meeting, second Monday of the month at New Perspectives, 300 S. Martha St. For families and interested persons. Blood pressure and blood sugar screening, 9 to … Narconon addiction …
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Survivor speaks at candlelight vigil honoring victims of sexual assault
The family only talked about the sexual abuse that had lasted for years that one time. "It was never mentioned again," Johnson said. "I learned the power of a secret in an abusive family." Johnson, a licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor and mental …
Read more on Lexington Clipper Herald
Prince William's potential cut to jail drug treatment program draws backlash
Prince William County officials are considering cutting local funding for the county jail's substance abuse treatment program, a move that has touched off intense lobbying from defense attorneys and law enforcement officials who say the program helps …
Read more on Washington Post
State drug abuse, awareness chief says cost thwarts drug treatment
Pennsylvania is only able to adequately treat one out of every eight drug addicts because of a lack of money for treatment programs, says the newly minted secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Gary Tennis, a former prosecutor in the …
Read more on Tribune-Review
Question by Joe B: Why is it that all these states are finding medical benefit in marijuana but the Federal gov can’t?
Are the states wrong finding medical benefit or are they looking to give “drug addicts” a free pass from prosecution and help with their daily fix?
Would the federal government lie about finding any benefit? Would they knowingly lie because if they did find benefit, it would have to become a prescription, thus legal on the federal level?
Best answer:
Answer by Teekno
State legislatures aren’t restricted by international drug treaties the way that Congress is.
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Gifu opens women-only dorm for drug addicts
A month has passed since drug rehabilitation center Gifu Darc opened the first dormitory in the Tokai region for female addicts. The center, in the city of Gifu, currently has only one female patient, 28, who was identified only by the pseudonym Aya …
Read more on The Japan Times
Viewpoint: We Need to Rethink Rehab
The treatment system fails because it's rooted in an entrenched, inaccurate view that addicts are morally bereft and weak. If they weren't, the belief goes, they'd stop using when drugs began to negatively impact their lives. Most treatment centers in …
Read more on TIME
Introducing… Wolf Therapy for Addicts
Promises Malibu, a swanky rehab center in West LA, has teamed up with Wolf Connection, an animal rescue center, to introduce "wolf therapy" to the addiction treatment world. Recovering addicts in the program are encouraged to connect … bred with dogs …
Read more on TheFix.com