Into Action Treatment Center Celebrates Family Weekend with Recovery Singer …
Into Action Treatment Center is celebrating family weekend this weekend at their alcohol and drug rehab center. The family weekend experience is always a great time for the clients who welcome their family members to the center and to get a glimpse …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

Dayton signs moratorium extension for radiation treatment centers
It extends until 2020 a moratorium on development of radiation treatment centers by nonhospital groups in 14 counties covering the metro area, St. Cloud and Duluth. The moratorium has been controversial since it was set in 2007, when it served to block …
Read more on Pioneer Press

El Pueblo Treatment Center Draws Scrutiny For Alleged Teen Solitary …
A residential teen treatment center in Pueblo, Colorado, is under fire for housing children in prolonged solitary confinement. The El Pueblo facility treats at-risk adolescents, many with developmental disabilities and mental health conditions and many …
Read more on Huffington Post

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!

Chasing the dragon
Resources for addiction help and more information: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, treatment referral hotline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357); locate local services, www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of Drug and …
Read more on Timesonline.com

Smack talk: Heroin addiction touches individuals, families, communities
Resources for addiction help and more information: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, treatment referral hotline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357); locate local services, www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of Drug and …
Read more on Timesonline.com

by nogger

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 Cabin Chiang Mai Alcohol and Drug Rehab to Participate in Australian …
According to figures from The Cabin Chiang Mai, Asia's leading drug and alcohol rehab treatment centre located in Thailand, an alarming number of Australian mining workers are seeking rehab for drug and alcohol addiction. Share on Twitter Share on …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

Hope By The Sea, California Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center, Exhibits At The …
The 2013 Foundations "Freedom and Recovery" Conference opened in Coronado, CA, April 3, 2013, which deals with integrated mental health and addiction treatment for service members and first responders. Hope By The Sea is pleased to be an exhibitor …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

Corrections Exemplary Service Medals award recepients

Image by BC Gov Photos
BC Corrections officers do a lot to keep our communities safe, but some of them really go above and beyond to help rehabilitate inmates by helping them with substance addictions, counseling with mental health issues, or teaching them employable skills. These officers have made a big difference for the inmates they’ve worked with, and in turn, our communities. They are recognized with the Corrections Exemplary Service Medal, or Bar.

Seated row (from left): Debbie Hawboldt, Provincial Director
Tedd Howard, Provincial Director Pete Coulson, Assistant
Deputy Minister Brent Merchant, The Honourable Judith
Guichon, Deputy Solicitor General Lori Wanamaker,
Provincial Director Bill Small, Provincial Director Elenore
Clark, Dave Vallance
Middle row: Melody Shepherd, Ken Fox, Eileen
Johnston, Patrick Monkman, Teri DuTemple, Randy Nelson,
Phil Chafe, Patrick Doherty, Dana Cosgrove, Don Tarling,
Shauna Morgan, Nancy Lewis, Rob Allison, Denean Jones,
Ryan Doern
Back row: Darren Allison, Dave Tuyttens, Gerald
Lapointe, John McKenzie, Greg Fensome, Al Chapple, Scott
Vallance, Mike Albert Page, Al Gillespie, Nedj Macesic,
Miles McGuire, Alfred Chu

Learn More: www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2012/12/minister-of-justice-congra…

Cory Monteith Checks Into Rehab for Substance Addiction
"Cory Monteith has voluntarily admitted himself into a treatment facility for substance addiction," his rep says in a statement. "He graciously asks for your respect and privacy as he takes the necessary steps towards recovery." "Cory is a beloved …
Read more on Us Magazine

Cory Monteith in rehab for substance addiction: Celebrities in rehab
Cory Monteith in rehab for substance addiction: Celebrities in rehab. Cory Monteith from "Glee" is checking into rehab. Fame is tough and not everyone can cope with it. These celebrities paid a visit to a rehabilitation center – some more than once …
Read more on New York Daily News

Almost Addicted: Is My (or My Loved One's) Drug Use a Problem?
Harvard Medical School's “Almost Effect” series is increasingly valuable in a world where mental health issues are starting to be seen on a grayscale rather than in black and white. The series, which includes Almost a Psychopath: Do I (or Does Someone …
Read more on PsychCentral.com (blog)