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Posts Tagged ‘mental health’

Question by Jessica MMM: my son VOLUNTARILY admitted himself into rehab 3 years ago, does this exclude him from posessing a foid card?
he was 16 at the time, it was not court ordered and the firearms owner act is poorly worded they do not define “mental health facility” as a rehabilitation center and on the application says it’s a felony to falsely admit info. so what im wondering is since he was self mandated, received no physiciatric care while staying, and also was never banned by a professional that he is not able to obtain a FOID card. so does this mean he’s still eligible because he loves hunting and is looking toward getting a rifle.

Best answer:

Answer by screamyourheartout
i don’t think it makes any difference whether it was voluntary or not. he still went to rehab

if i were you, i would check with someone. there should be a contact number or something like that on the foid application form, or online if you google it. ring them and ask if that counts as a mental health facility

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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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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…

Drug Tests in Humans for Methamphetamine Addiction
Dec. 19, 2012 — InterveXion Therapeutics LLC and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) have successfully completed dosing in the first human safety study of a medication to help methamphetamine users fight their addictions.
Read more on Science Daily (press release)

Oregon finds efforts to treat drug addicts paying off
That philosophy fuels Oregon's nationally reputed system of addiction care that officials, health experts and treatment professionals say provides lessons for Kentucky as it struggles with a crippling prescription drug-abuse problem and an overwhelmed …
Read more on USA TODAY

Addicts overwhelm Kentucky's drug treatment options
Two-thirds of the 21,474 Kentuckians admitted for treatment of any drug addiction in 2009 entered once-weekly outpatient care, compared with 46 percent nationally. Less than 5 percent entered residential care, compared with 17 percent nationally.
Read more on The Courier-Journal

New Missoula addiction treatment center to open in April
The center is a project of the Western Montana Mental Health Center, and housing and development director Patty Kent said the campaign will help bring in part of the remaining $ 300,000. The Mental Health Center already has raised $ 3 million so far.
Read more on The Missoulian

Actor Martin Sheen helps Tulsa addiction treatment center at fundraiser
"Addiction treatment and recovery centers help the entire community in ways most never see," Sheen said during a recent phone interview. "People we all know need help. They're in our churches. They're our co-workers. They're our children and our family …
Read more on Tulsa World

Former COO of Peter Young treatment facility indicted
The New York State Attorney General's office charging the one-time COO of drug and alcohol treatment facility 820 River Street, Inc. in Troy with grand larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument, and falsifying business recors. The AG says …
Read more on WXXA

Question by Jessica MMM: my son VOLUNTARILY admitted himself into rehab 3 years ago, does this exclude him from posessing a foid card?
he was 16 at the time, it was not court ordered and the firearms owner act is poorly worded they do not define “mental health facility” as a rehabilitation center and on the application says it’s a felony to falsely admit info. so what im wondering is since he was self mandated, received no physiciatric care while staying, and also was never banned by a professional that he is not able to obtain a FOID card. so does this mean he’s still eligible because he loves hunting and is looking toward getting a rifle.

Best answer:

Answer by screamyourheartout
i don’t think it makes any difference whether it was voluntary or not. he still went to rehab

if i were you, i would check with someone. there should be a contact number or something like that on the foid application form, or online if you google it. ring them and ask if that counts as a mental health facility

What do you think? Answer below!

Question by Kirk: What is the medical and legal definition of “narcotics abuse”?
If a patient suddenly discovered he had been given a diagnoses of “narcotics abuse”, what does that mean? It’s a false claim and it needs further investigation, and moreover, an explanation. But ,can you break it down for me? It immediately conjures up an extremely negative connotation for me.

Best answer:

Answer by KoalaMama
Let’s start at the basics. Narcotics are any of a group of drugs, such as heroin, morphine, and pethidine, that produce numbness and stupor. They are used medicinally to relieve pain but are sometimes also taken for their pleasant effects. Prolonged use may cause addiction, which leads to the abuse.

The definition of abuse would be “misuse, maltreatment, or excessive use.” So, the overindulgence in and dependence on said substance, leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual’s physical or mental health, or the welfare of others, would be defined as narcotics abuse.

In other words, narcotic use is considered abuse when people use narcotics to seek feelings of well-being apart from the narcotic’s pain-relief applications.

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