Clinic to help drug–addicted babies
Now, they and their families have a place to go for help. The Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome … But as prescription drug addiction took hold among a variety of people in 2008, the numbers of addicted babies, too, began to rise. In the last two to three …
Read more on Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Forum to help addicts' family members
That's why Kress wants to help other families. He will share his story and take his place alongside panelists from The Alcohol and Addiction Program, Community Mental Healthcare and Personal & Family Counseling Services Harbor House to discuss drug …
Read more on New Philadelphia Times Reporter

Bali urged to set up drug rehabilitation
BNN Bali head, I Gusti Ketut Budiarta, expected the planned 2.5 hectare rehabilitation center, previously designated as part of Bangli Mental Health Hospital in Bangli regency, would enable people with drug addictions to receive proper medical treatment.
Read more on Jakarta Post

'Ferocious' addiction: Judge considers rehab for suspect in courthouse drug …
EAST ST. LOUIS — U.S. Magistrate Donald Wilkerson decided Thursday that he would take some time to decide whether to release St. Clair County courthouse drug scandal suspect Sean McGilvery to an inpatient drug rehabilitation facility. Wilkerson said …
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Drug addicts should be treated, not imprisoned
Kadek Adi Mantara, director of Bali Health Foundation (Yakeba), told Bali Daily recently that the campaign was a reminder for people and policy makers that drug users badly needed medical treatment rather than jail time. “The Indonesian government's …
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Question by nunya: Does anyone know at least 4 to 7 places where someone can get long term treatment for drug addiction?
This is for D.A.R.E

Best answer:

Answer by cintchick
The link I included below will take you to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) treatment center locator. SAMHSA is a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services

Enter a city and state, then select “Continue”. You will then be offered options to target your search. In your case, under “Services Provided” you would select “Substance Abuse” and under “Type of Care” you would select “Residential Long-Term Treatment” and/or “Hospital Inpatient”. Again, select “Continue”. You will then see a list of centers with their contact information, as well as a summary of the services they offer and forms of payment accepted.

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Alcohol and drug abuse may be genetic risk
The centres provide a stigma free venue to identify young people at risk of mental and substance abuse and can provide support, psychological care and drug and alcohol counselling, he says. "A lot of young people use drug and alcohol as a way of coping …
Read more on NEWS.com.au

High School Dropouts More Likely to Have Drug and Alcohol Abuse Problems
Many times, using and abusing drugs or alcohol is one way they get involved with other activities. Unfortunately, these dropouts suffer serious life ramifications for their choices. According to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

Drug abuse rates spike as 9m Pakistanis identified as addicts
GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khlaeeq-ur-Rahman, Drug Free City Lahore Project Director Altaf Qamar and RFS Advisor Dr Akhyar Farrukh led the walk to the university campus to raise awareness among the youth against drug abuse.
Read more on PakistanToday.com.pk

The Unlikely Force Driving Teen Prescription Drug Addiction: Parents?
Both parents and teens have misconceptions about prescription drug use. More than one-quarter of teens assume prescription drugs are safe because a doctor prescribes them and they're readily available. One-third of teens don't see a problem with using …
Read more on Huffington Post

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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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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