Prescription Drug Abuse Increases on US Campuses
Nationally, the types of prescription drugs most commonly abused are pain pills, muscle relaxers, anti-anxiety medication and stimulants, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The most common prescription drugs abused are Vicodin …
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Bridging Medicaid's medical and behavioral care chasm
On April 1, the Mercy Care Plan, under contract with the state of Arizona, started coordinating medical treatment with behavioral care and substance-abuse services for Medicaid beneficiaries in the Phoenix area who suffer from serious mental illness …
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Four running for probate/juvenile judge
I've handled all kinds of cases, from felony rape down to DUI and real estate transaction, but I'm drawn toward juvenile and probate cases. I see that the …. Probably 90 percent of the juvenile court cases can be traced back to substance abuse in the …
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Roanoke teens' STD rate higher than state average
If you see your kid's mood drastically changing, that's a red flag for so many things — mental health illness, substance abuse and sexual activity.” Health department STD testing … “I'm eight feet away from you,” the man types into his phone. “Let's …
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National Take-Back Day Will Reduce the Number of Prescription Drugs in …
The two drug, alcohol, and prescription abuse treatment centers offer an alternative to the 12 step/AA model of addiction treatment by utilizing a holistic program that focuses on the underlying issues of substance dependency, rather than attributing …
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Special Discount Now Available at Serenity Vista, a Luxury Drug Rehab Facility …
Located in beautiful Boquete, Chiriqui, Panama, the luxury drug rehab center aims to assist alcoholics and addicts in recovering from their addiction in a serene setting that offers several leisure activities meant to help patients focus on their well …
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Filling the void
JAK's is a drop-in center for people affected by mental illness in any way. Yoga is part of Miller's holistic approach to health. “I benefit as much as they … There are no inpatient facilities in Door County, so clients usually go to Nicolet …
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2 Nations Leading Jet Search Have Turbulent Past
Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers became the first Westerners to be hanged under Malaysia's tough anti-drug laws, and Mahathir had insisted they get no special treatment. Australia bars capital punishment, but Malaysia found its intervention insulting …
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by IslesPunkFan

Police Taught to Spot Signs of Psychiatric Crisis
"We have systematically dismantled the treatment system for people with the most severe mental illness, and that has consequences," said Doris Fuller, executive director of the Treatment Advocacy Center in Arlington, Va. "We have basically discontinued …
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Question by Abcn217: 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.

Cherry Hill's Humble Beginnings will serve adult addicts in recovery
Humble Beginnings, a new out-patient drug rehab in Cherry Hill. Wednesday, March 26 … Based on the 12-step program, the center is licensed by the state Department of Human Services to provide outpatient and intensive outpatient substance abuse …
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Eva Hobbs' Battle With Her Son's Mental Illness Ended in Her Bloody Bedroom …
JANUARY 2014: A confrontation involving alcohol leads to Hobbs moving out of his brother's house and in with his sister. … "Substance abuse is the most common co-occurring disorder in people with schizophrenia," according to the National Institute of …
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Vital statistics
Mary T. Aguero , 27, 126 E. Market St. , Orrville , was fined $ 200 for never having been licensed. Michael Zahurak , 53, Wadsworth , was fined $ 200 for never … Larry A. Spence II , 45, 140 Garden St. , Creston , was fined $ 50 for possessing drug …
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Understanding Lung Cancer
Yuma, Arizona (NAPSI) – While global lung cancer rates are going down, the condition is still the leading cause of cancer death in theUnited States. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family. The Problem. Like all …
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Jewish perspectives to illumine ICS conference on mental illness
He edited the National Center for Jewish Healing's first book, “Healing of Soul, Healing of Body” and is the author of “Guide Me Along the Way: A Jewish Spiritual Companion for Surgery.” Mental health treatment in Judaism revolves around two axes …
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Devil's Basil: true stories from the UAE about the perils of drugs
The surveys also found that 200,000 people die every year from drugs-related causes. The booklet narrowed addiction down to four stages, starting with the love of experience. Next comes acceptance of drug use, followed by regular abuse and then …
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Why Mentally Ill People Should Have Access to E-Cigarettes
The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors reported in 2012 that people receiving public mental health services who have both an addiction and a mental illness die, on average, nearly 32 years earlier than others. Smoking is a …
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Subdued Alspaugh appears in court
A taser fires an electrical current, disrupting control of muscles, causing incapacitation. When Alspaugh was capable of walking … Without commenting specifically on Alspaugh, Kramer said drug abuse is too often a factor. Alspaugh was previously …
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FDA Oks new therapy to prevent hemophilia bleeding
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first hemophilia B treatment designed to decrease frequency of injections to prevent the excessive bleeding the clotting disorder causes. The medicine, Alprolix (all-PRO'licks), is …
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