10 things rehab centers won't tell you
And while SAMHSA says only 2.5 million Americans are undergoing treatment, that's already enough to support a sizable industry , with more than 14,500 facilities for drug addiction alone, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In all, rehab … Read more on MarketWatch

Heroin addicts left trapped; families, heartbroken
"I'm sure a certain part of the population doesn't really understand the loss of behavioral control that comes with this particular brain disease," says Melinda Campopiano, medical officer for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at SAMHSA. She … Read more on Mansfield News Journal

mothers and children fight addiction side by side
There were many similar stories during the 18 years she abused drugs and alcohol. Until, in the pre-dawn light one morning in late July 2011, she checked herself into The Women's Treatment Center, a West Side drug rehabilitation facility that … Read more on WBEZ

Drug-Free South Building a Future for Kids Across Tennessee
The goal of the campaign is to mobilize support and inspire people to act against drug use, according to unodc.org. The Foundation for a Drug-Free World has as a goal to educate children and youth across the world to effectively prevent the demand for … Read more on PR.com (press release)

The international mood on drug use and addiction is shifting from punishment …
That hypocrisy was the subject of a discussion featuring Nora Volkow, the director of America's National Institute on Drug Abuse and an expert on how drug addiction affects the brain, at the World Science Festival two weeks ago: Addiction is a disease … Read more on New Statesman

Keystone Church donates funds to Saline task force on drug abuse
Just as Keystone partners with parents, individuals and families to achieve the work of our church, we are excited to provide financial and other support to the Saline Addiction Prevention Task Force as they develop partnerships across our community to … Read more on Heritage Newspapers

Question by Green: AODA counselor degree advice?
Hi there. I want to become an AODA counselor, I was wondering, hopefully for some advice from real AODA counselors, how is the schooling money/studying-wise? Is it worth the job? (Im sure I will find the job more than worthwhile no matter what, I don’t care for money, I want to help people more than anything)

What does the school consist of and how many years should I plan on going?

thanks in advance.

Best answer:

Answer by jannsody
If by AODA counselor, you’re referring to an “alcohol and other drug abuse” counselor, which is most likely similar to the credentials of CAC (certified addiction counselor) or CADC (certified alcohol and drug counselor), then obtaining a master’s degree can make a person more marketable in the field.

It’s great that you’re not considering “addiction counseling” for the money as most don’t enter the field for the salary 🙂 A lot of addiction counselors are “in recovery” (from addiction) themselves, but it’s not a prerequisite.

The substance abuse counseling student needs to get a passing score while completing several clinical fieldwork hours under the supervision of a clinical supervisor and having an actual patient caseload.

This site has more general info re: certification in addiction counseling: http://www.naadac.org/certification

Just an fyi that the social work/counseling (and nursing) field is supposed to have a high burn-out rate.

With regard to schooling, please do *avoid* those private For-profit schools, such as devry, ITT tech, strayer, U of P, capella, regis, argosy, walden, grand canyon, ashworth, full sail, ashford, pima medical, Stratford career, keiser, Everest, penn foster, icdc, Kaplan, art institute, concorde career and others. Their course credits usually do ** NOT ** transfer to other schools, even if the for-profit school is regionally accredited as opposed to only nationally accredited.

General career info: http://www.bls.gov/ooh and can search “substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors”, “social workers”, “counselors” or such.

For U.S. colleges (though, please still forgo those for-profit schools): http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ

This government site has more general info re: “functional qualities and helping skills for AODA counselors and therapists”: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/substabuse/docs/reports/Helpingskills3.pdf

You may want to consider volunteering at a “crisis helpline” of which the volunteer engages in “active listening” (including reflecting feelings) of the caller as opposed to providing counseling or giving advice.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Substance counselor gets prison in DUI death
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A substance-abuse counselor who struck a pedestrian with her car and drove through a Los Angeles suburb with the dying man on her windshield was sentenced Thursday to 55 years to life in prison. Sherri Lynn Wilkins, 53, was … Read more on 7Online WSVN-TV

Woman who drove with dying man on car gets prison – KOAM TV 7
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A substance-abuse counselor was sentenced Thursday to 55 years to life in prison for hitting a pedestrian with her car and driving through a Los Angeles suburb with the dying man on her windshield. A jury earlier this year convicted … Read more on KOAM-TV

Sheriff disappointed in drug program results
Although Cahill is not a substance abuse counselor, he was hoping the lessons his company teaches would also help the program's participants. Three of the men in the program have been sentenced to prison, one for committing another crime and two for … Read more on The Daily Standard

News anchor Bert Roselle: 1933-2014
Mr. Roselle, a former television anchor and drug abuse counselor, has died at age 80. Colleagues remember Bert Roselle as the first “face” of Channel 17 news. He was the veteran professional in a relatively young newsroom and a mentor with a sense of … Read more on Florida Times-Union

Individuals are always subject to times of weakness. These can make manifest in different kind of vices. These vices are can in turn develop into addiction such as substance dependence or drug addiction. These addictions have a profound effect on the life not only of the addict but most especially the lives of the members of their family, their friends as well as their loved one and even their community. Drug addiction can affect daily performance of duties and can thus put a strain on relationships both professional and personal.

Nevertheless there is no need to despair. Drug addiction help is always possible. Drug rehab centres offer various programs to help patients get over the hump and achieve sobriety.

Drug counseling is one of the therapies that are offered to patients. Questions nonetheless arise as to what goes on in this process. But basically drug counseling is part of drug addiction treatment. It is an important component in the quest to help individuals achieve sobriety and stay sober after treatment.

Counseling provides an avenue where patients can talk about their struggles and how their addiction came about. This helps doctors decipher how best to help these patients recover. Drug counseling may be done individually or in groups. The former is done with a registered counselor who is trained to address different issues that the addict may have. The latter is done in a group setting where individuals get to share their experiences and work as a support group for each other.

With various issues that are centered on, drug counseling can be a challenge. However, recovery can be much more difficult and even nearly impossible to attain without it. Addiction counselors and medical professionals can devise different programs to specifically cater to each patient. They have extensive training to be able to address all the needs of the addict and assist them in their quest for sobriety.

Addicts go through a lot of physical, mental and emotional struggles throughout treatment. It is the roles of drug counseling and counselors to help lift this heavy burden by providing an avenue where individuals can express their feelings and vent out all the negative emotions that may be residing in them. Drug counseling is thus vital in the healing process.

Drug addiction affects the different facets of a person’s life-lifestyle, family, community and work. Drug counseling aids person in coming to terms with their addiction and addressing all the issues that come with it. Drug counseling acts as a sounding board and a reflection of an individual’s life before, during and after addiction or while on treatment. This can be a way of showing an individual various paths that can be taken that are more productive and rewarding. Drug counseling is a way of empowering an addict to better deal with their issues and face them squarely. This enables them to devise solutions and in turn solve their problems.

All in all, drug counseling is in every bit, vital to the quest for recovery from drug addiction. Being able to vent out feelings and talk about issues are important steps on the way to sobriety.

Ranzenhofer says Senate passes comprehensive package of bills on opiates
The passage of the bill package begins the legislative response laid out in the report to prevent drug abuse and overdoses; increase the availability and efficacy of addiction treatment; and enhance the tools provided to law enforcement to keep heroin … Read more on The Batavian

Police: Killer couple shouted: 'Revolution!'
In 2011, he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of dealing marijuana and was sentenced to two year's probation and drug counseling. He was arrested and charged with battery in 2009. A jury acquitted him later that year. Couple moved to Las Vegas in January. Read more on KSPR

Homeless population growing in South Jersey, NJ Counts report says
In order to combat the homeless problem, she believes, the drug addiction problem must be tackled. "There's a pretty large heroin and opiate problem. This heroin crisis going on is in all the counties," she said. "We need more drug counseling … Read more on NJ.com

Question by Do your own thinking!: What is and is not “drug-seeking behaviour”?
Saw a movie recently that had a bit of dialogue between a shrink and her legitimately stressed-out patient that went roughly — _very_ roughly —

Doctor: What can I do to help you?
Patient: At this point, I need some Valium or something like that.
Doctor: I won’t prescribe it. That’s drug-seeking behaviour.

Absurd as it is, even the most rational sort of ‘I think I am at the point where I am in need of medication’ seems to be labelled “drug-seeking behaviour” by a lot of doctors. Are there formal definitions for it?

Best answer:

Answer by ? BTriX??
That is a touchy subject in patient – doctor relations.

While some doctors will perscribe anything their patient’s ask them for – others will not perscribe anything at all. It is all dependant on the doctor, if he is willing to make a commitment to monitor a patient taking valium, pain killers and such – or if they are not willing to.

What do you think? Answer below!

Olympic swimming star Van Dyken severs spinal cord in crash
22, 2000, U.S. swimmer Amy Van Dyken watching the time board after her 50m freestyle heat at Sydney International Aquatic Centre during Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. About The … He said his wife had not been drinking alcohol that evening. “So hard … Read more on Tribune-Review

Denial mode can't arrest drug abuse
Experts involved in the treatment of drug addicts and abusers say that they have treated at least 7000 patients since July 2001. The abuse is common … Establishing detoxification centres and long-term rehabilitation facilities is the need of the hour … Read more on Rising Kashmir

Women's Treatment Centre wins international award
Mr. Speaker, the Women's Treatment Center was awarded accreditation for the categories of Community Housing: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Adult) and for Residential Treatment: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Adults). The Community … Read more on Royal Gazette

Question by mags2313: Why is alcoholism or being an alcoholic considered a disease?
?

Best answer:

Answer by kiki
Because it’s a mental and physical addiction. It’s not a choice. There’s a chemical reaction in the brain from it.

Add your own answer in the comments!

Treatment of prisoners' alcoholism is an essential part of rehabilitation
However, study another form of addiction and you see a very different picture. The vast majority of prisons are almost alcohol-free zones. I say almost: booze is usually available in open prisons, and a few inmates in closed jails carry on the practice … Read more on The Guardian

SMART Recovery offers growing alternative to Alcoholics Anonymous
… to have the reach of SMART Recovery, which has 11 weekly meetings in the Chicago area and 1,300 more around the world. Some participants say they like its clear-cut approach, treating addiction as a problem that can be solved through rational thinking. Read more on Chicago Tribune

Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Launches Statewide …
TRENTON – The Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA) today launched a statewide advertising and awareness campaign, “Addiction Does Not Discriminate,” and the website KnowAddiction.nj.gov, which will help fight the opiate abuse … Read more on Atlantic Highlands Herald

UPDATE 1-Reckitt Benckiser to develop XenoPort alcohol abuse drug
Reckitt plans to advance the new drug into a Phase IIB proof-of-concept study for the treatment of alcohol use disorders, a condition it says affects more than 140 million people worldwide. The drug will be tested for its ability to suppress alcohol … Read more on Reuters