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Addiction
What is addiction? What do you have to do? What is drug addiction? What is another word or term for drug addiction? Is there a difference between addiction and substance use disorder? What is the difference between addiction and substance use disorder? What are the ten most common addictions? What are the complications of addiction? What types of individuals are prone to addiction? What are the complications of this addiction? What is included in the other known addictions specified? Interview for job as an addiction counselor: Does the person have the skills and knowledge necessary for the job? Does the supervisor or those who are trying to teach have the skills and knowledge necessary for the job? Interview for client: How do you conduct a client interview? Did this activity have harmful consequences in the past? Does this activity have harmful consequences now? Can this activity have harmful consequences in the future? Have these questions been answered? What do you think is the cause or causes of your addiction? What do others think is the cause or causes of your addiction? Who must be consulted to verify the cause or causes of your addiction? Is this situation due to substance use or some other nonsubstance use? What describes the situation? Further resources for addiction issues: Where are further resources available? What causes addiction? Why does addiction occur? What makes addiction grow worse? What are the types of addiction? How could this be prevented? Here are further guidelines. Addiction Counselor What Does an Addiction Counselor Do? What Makes a Good Addiction Counselor? What Types of Therapy are Available? What Is a Substance Abuse Counselor? Here are further guidelines. |
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What is addiction? Addiction refers to a compulsive activity that is time consuming with harmful consequences. What do you have to do? Identify the activity, time spent, and harmful consequences. What is drug addiction? Drug addiction refers to chronic relapsing into compulsive drug seeking, with harmful consequences. There can be long-lasting changes in the brain. It is a complex brain disorder and a mental illness. What is another word or term for drug addiction? Substance use disorder Is there a difference between addiction and substance use disorder? Yes. What is the difference between addiction and substance use disorder? Addiction has many categories. One category of addiction is drug addiction. Addiction is a broad term; substance use disorder falls within this category. Substance use disorder (SUD) refers to the uncontrolled use of a substance despite its harmful consequences. Here are guidelines from Doctor Asif Qureshi for addiction counselors and those with addiction issues. What are the ten most common addictions? 1. Tobacco (nicotine) – More than 40 million 2. Alcohol – 18 million 3. Marijuana – 4.2 million 4. Painkillers – 1.8 million 5. Cocaine – 821,000 6. Heroin – 426,000 7. Benzodiazepines – 400,000 8. Stimulants – 329,000 9. Inhalants – 140,000 10. Sedatives (barbiturates) – 78,000 11. Other known addictions specified On or before April 3, 2021, this was the situation in the United States. What are the complications of addiction? What types of individuals are prone to addiction? What are the complications of this addiction? What is included in the other known addictions specified? Interview for job as an addiction counselor: Does the person have the skills and knowledge necessary for the job? Does the supervisor or those who are trying to teach have the skills and knowledge necessary for the job? Interview for client: How do you conduct a client interview? Did this activity have harmful consequences in the past? Does this activity have harmful consequences now? Can this activity have harmful consequences in the future? Have these questions been answered? What do you think is the cause or causes of your addiction? What do others think is the cause or causes of your addiction? Who must be consulted to verify the cause or causes of your addiction? Is this situation due to substance use or some other nonsubstance use? What describes the situation? Further resources for addiction issues: Where are further resources available? Here are further guidelines. |
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What is alcohol intoxication? Alcohol intoxication is a harmful physical condition caused when you drink more alcohol than your body can handle. It is also called ethanol poisoning, or being drunk. What are common signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication? Decreased social inhibition Joyousness Mild euphoria Relaxation Increased verbosity Alcohol flush reaction Reduced affect display Disinhibition Euphoria Extraversion Increased pain tolerance Analgesia Ataxia Boisterousness Over-expressed emotions Possibility of nausea and vomiting Spins Anger or sadness Anterograde amnesia Impaired sensations Inhibited sexual desire (ISD) Mood swings Nausea Partial loss of understanding Possibility of stupor Vomiting Central nervous system depression Lapses in and out of consciousness Loss of understanding Low possibility of death Pulmonary aspiration Stupor Coma Possibility of death Severe central nervous system depression >500 mg/dL High possibility of death Progressive effects of alcohol
How is alcohol intoxication treated? Behavioral Treatments Behavioral treatments are aimed at changing drinking behavior through counseling. They are led by health professionals and supported by studies showing they can be beneficial. In brief intervention therapy, a healthcare provider helps you think about your alcohol use differently. He or she helps you set goals to decrease the amount of alcohol you drink. Therapy may continue after you leave the hospital. Research shows that about one-third of people who are treated for alcohol problems have no further symptoms 1 year later. Many others substantially reduce their drinking and report fewer alcohol-related problems. Current Medications Medications Medicines may be given to help you stay calm, control seizures, or prevent nausea and vomiting. You may also be given glucose or vitamin B1 if your levels are too low. Acamprosate – Used to reduce alcohol cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Naltrexone – Used to reduce cravings for alcohol as well as its pleasurable effects. Vivitrol – An extended-release formulation of Naltrexone Disulfiram – Causes severe negative effects when alcohol is consumed. Mutual-Support Groups Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-step programs provide peer support for people quitting or cutting back on their drinking. Combined with treatment led by health professionals, mutual-support groups can offer a valuable added layer of support. Starting With a Primary Care Doctor For anyone thinking about treatment, talking to a primary care physician is an important first step — he or she can be a good source for treatment referrals and medications. A primary care physician can also: Evaluate whether a patient’s drinking pattern is risky Help craft a treatment plan Evaluate overall health Assess if medications for alcohol may be appropriate Types of Professionals Involved in Care Many health professionals can play a role in treatment. Below is a list of providers and the type of care they may offer. Primary Care Provider / Medications, Brief Behavioral Treatment, Referral to Specialist Psychiatrist / Medications, Behavioral Treatment Psychologist / Behavioral Treatment Social Worker / Behavioral Treatment Alcohol Counselor / Behavioral Treatment Here are further guidelines. |
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Substance abuse counselors work with people who are working to overcome one or more addictions, for example, addictions to alcohol, prescription drugs, and illicit drugs like heroin.
Addiction counseling is a term that describes the process where an addicted person seeks help from a professional drug and alcohol counselor to overcome this disease. An addiction counselor collaborates with their patients to identify their needs and goals to develop a customized treatment plan. Your counselor should be a good listener and possesses an overall demeanor of compassion. Anyone suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction knows how powerful and devastating this disease can be. Sometimes a person abusing substances believes they are managing addiction on their own, when in reality their addiction is managing them. A professional addiction counselor can help a person abusing substances at any stage of readiness to achieve and maintain sobriety. Counselors are an important part of addiction therapy and their role and involvement in the treatment process is instrumental to recovery. Addiction counselors can help support you throughout the treatment process and create an individualized plan for recovery, relapse prevention, and after-care. There are various types of therapy available while in treatment that will provide an array of benefits and allow you to sustain your sobriety while in recovery. What Does an Addiction Counselor Do? With the help of an addiction counselor, you can explore what caused you to use drugs or alcohol, share and process feelings, increase awareness of negative though and behavior patterns, learn healthy coping skills, identify potential triggers, and create a long-term plan to sustain your sobriety. Both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs rely heavily on the use of addiction counseling and these take place in individual or group formats. An addiction counselor’s role is to: Conduct substance abuse evaluations and general assessments Provide unbiased emotional support for individuals throughout a treatment program Conduct one-on-one, couples, and family therapy sessions to get to the root of the addiction Provide psychoeducation Facilitate process groups and group exercises Administer periodic drug and alcohol tests Develop a specialized plan for treatment based on your individual needs and goals Help you create an aftercare plan based on care available in your area Addiction counselors will also conduct group therapy sessions that often incorporate family members or other patients in addiction treatment. Group therapy can lead to discussions about family dynamics and how unhealthy relationships can create or feed into addictive behaviors. Once these dysfunctions are identified, the patient can begin making important post-treatment plans. What Makes a Good Addiction Counselor? An addiction counselor collaborates with their patients to identify their needs and goals to develop a customized treatment plan. Your counselor should be a good listener and possesses an overall demeanor of compassion. The initial counseling sessions are designed to lay the foundation for mutual trust, which is imperative for a successful outcome. Through a counselor’s empathy (many are former addicts themselves) and patience, they create a safe environment for the user to openly communicate. This will help the counselor identify the underlying issues that may be driving the addictive behavior. This part of therapy is on of the keys, because without pinpointing the underlying issue, long-term recovery is less likely. A good therapist will also be able to diagnose and treat any co-occurring mental health conditions. The most important quality in a good addiction counselor is a desire and commitment to help their patients move through the stages of change with the ultimate goal of achieving long-term sobriety. What Types of Therapy are Available? There are many different types of therapies designed to complement the traditional addiction counseling sessions. Depending on the treatment center, these may include: Biofeedback and Neurofeedback. These therapies use real-time displays of brain activity to monitor levels of muscle tension, blood pressure and heart rate. This trains the patient on how to manipulate brain function in order to gain some control over their physiological processes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is effective in helping addiction and mental health disorders because it focuses on the relationship between thoughts and the subsequent behaviors and choices related to them. Through the use of CBT, a counselor can help patients identify triggers that lead to drug or alcohol use, and then replace those responses with healthy ones. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT is used to treat individuals with a dual diagnosis and one of the main objectives is to help patients gain confidence and coping abilities to handle stressful situations in healthy ways. DBT will also improve communication skills and self-image, which can help people with conditions such as Borderline Personality Disorder and eating disorders. Meditation, Hypnotherapy, Guided Imagery and Mindfulness. These types of therapies place a focus on identifying triggers, controlling stress responses and using deep relaxation techniques. The main idea of these types of therapy is to get an individual into a relaxed state of mind to utilize healthy coping strategies to manage cravings, feelings, and stress. Aromatherapy is an effective supplement to these types of therapy. Holistic therapies. In addition to traditional treatment methods, holistic therapy helps patients practice introspection and learn healthy coping skills. It also gives patients who are not comfortable opening up in traditional therapy sessions a way to communicate their deepest fears and issues in a non-threatening manner. A few forms of holistic therapy that can be useful in treating addictions are yoga, art therapy, music therapy and equine therapy. Quality addiction treatment centers also include nutrition and wellness and provide a variety of additional types of therapies in order to treat the whole person, with the ultimate goal of guiding the patient toward a lasting recovery. What Is a Substance Abuse Counselor? Substance abuse counselors work with people who are working to overcome one or more addictions, for example, addictions to alcohol, prescription drugs, and illicit drugs like heroin. In addition to needing to evaluate clients’ mental health, physical health and openness to treatment, addiction counselors help clients to develop treatment and recovery plans. Drug and alcohol abuse continues to be a global problem, and today more than ever, qualified addiction counselors are needed to help combat this epidemic. The statistics are staggering. For example, a report by Optum found that someone dies of an opioid overdose every 13 minutes in America. Data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that in 2015, more than 15.1 million adults age 18 and up suffered from an alcohol use disorder. Professionals who have an interest in helping people cope with and overcome addiction may be drawn to a career as a substance abuse counselor. Completing an advanced education, such as an online master’s in counseling, can provide the skills and acumen needed to be successful in this field. For example, some addiction counseling clients may need to avoid social situations where other people might be using. Counselors may also need to help clients to identify and to mitigate possible relapse triggers, such as stress, depression and social isolation. Recovering from addiction is difficult, but when therapeutic alliances develop, clients are more likely to discuss their hardships, which can help them on their path to recovery. Consequently, professionals who pursue this career path play an important role in the field of clinical mental health counseling. How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor Individuals interested in pursuing a career as a substance abuse counselor will need to start by obtaining an education. Although the educational requirements to work as an addiction counselor vary based on the job description and state licensing agency, most states require candidates to possess at least a bachelor’s degree. The number of supervised training hours that counselors need to complete varies by state. As such, prospective substance abuse counselors will want to research their states’ licensing procedures. Completing a master’s degree has additional benefits. Substance Abuse Counselor Skills, Job Growth and Salary Substance abuse counselors work in various environments, including government and private sector agencies, community clinics, inpatient care facilities, and private practice. Some work with clients one-on-one, while others work with clients in a group setting. Yet regardless of the setting, the skills counselors need to successfully treat patients are uniform. For example, substance abuse counselors must be able to recommend and review treatment goals, in addition to understanding how to help clients to identify situations and environments that might be stressful and thus have a negative impact on their recovery. Substance abuse counselors must also be effective at educating clients’ families about addiction disorders and help them to develop strategies to cope with their loved one’s addiction. Professionals wanting to find out more about what a substance abuse counselor is may be interested to learn that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of substance abuse counselors to grow by 22% from 2018 to 2028, which is much faster than the average projected growth for all other occupations. The BLS further reports that the median annual wage for substance abuse counselors was $44,630 in 2018, although earners in the top 10th percentile reported annual earnings of more than $72,990. If you have a desire to work in a field that allows you to provide support for individuals who suffer from alcohol dependency and substance abuse, you are likely to find that an advanced degree can help you toward that goal. Here are further guidelines. |