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!!!

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

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.

Give your answer to this question below!

by AlphachimpStudio

Question by Anonymous Anonymous: Why is it illogical to argue that marijuana should be legal because alcohol is more harmful, yet legal?
Is it not reasonable to expect the legal substances to be safer than the illegal ones? Preventing potential harm to oneself/others is the basis for outlawing substances in the first place, right?

Please only answer my question, no ramblings on the topic in general.

Best answer:

Answer by tomusiaka
You should not assume that a substance is less harmful just because it’s legal. There are many legal drugs in pharmacy that are much more harmful to you than marijuana and some other drugs that are illegal. Also, glues and other chemicals that can make you high are legal but they are very harmful to your body.

People who want to make marijuana legal have other reasons, too. For example, there are couple countries where legalizing drugs made people use them less and safer, or that if someone wants to hurt himself, he will do it any other way using any other substance that is legal or just will buy an illegal drug from a drug dealer that potentially could be even more harmful because it is not regulated by the law.

People who don’t want to make marijuana legal believe that making it legal would make a lot of people use it and hurt themselves and others. Hurting others would include families (father got addicted and is not supporting his own family), other drivers (driving when “on high” can be life threatening), other poeple (accidental) and government’s budget (more accidents would mean more filled up hospitals and drug addicts usually can’t afford to pay their medical bills because they spend all their money on drugs).

There are other valid arguments on both sides though but the one you gave is actually not a valid one.

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Maine program to help children of drug addicts seeks to change culture
In Penobscot and Piscataquis counties, pregnant drug users and families dealing with substance abuse problems who have children age 5 and younger will be connected with a specially trained and nonjudgmental “navigator” who will help connect them with …
Read more on Bangor Daily News

Bill Requires Drug Test to Get Cash Assistance
It's a controversial legislation that has supporters and opponents battling it out from the beginning. H.B. 4118 requires suspicion-based drug screening for applicants and recipients of cash assistance from the Family Independence Program. … "We …
Read more on WSYM-TV

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!!!

Add your own answer in the comments!

Question by : How many addicts successfully recover from drug addiction?
Those rehab places seem like a revolving door. What percentage of drug addicts who’ve been addicted to hard drugs for at least one year successfully recover from their addiction the rest of their lives?

Best answer:

Answer by applesk8er
1 in 6

What do you think? Answer below!