Discrimination against Online Certification

But let’s look at the reality of the situation.  Discrimination still exists.  It may be politically incorrect or even illegal, but people will still hold the fact that your certificate was obtained online against you.  Regardless of the fact that you went and spent tons of time under supervision and management.  Regardless that you got tons of real in-the-field experience.  They will hold it against you.  Not everyone will, but just realize that the possibility is there.

Never accept a lower salary because someone is discriminating against you.  If you just want to take a lower paying job so you can get more experience under your belt and on your resume, then by all means go for it.  But don’t take a cut because someone else is being a jerk.

The Need for Prior, Unavailable Experience

I’d like for you to also realize a second thing.  Many employers expect for you to have had some experience before they want to hire you for a position in their company, and this is especially true as a substance abuse counselor.  They want to see that you know how to work with this special population.  So what the heck?  If they won’t hire you, how can you get experience?

Well, if it really boils down to it, make the sacrifices to go work in all kinds of “social work” careers.  Work at a nursing home for half a year.  Volunteer with children with mental disabilities for half a year.  Become a frontline counselor at a residential treatment facility.  There are lot’s of ways to fluff up your resume in regards to this kind of work.  Be a therapist’s intern for a while.  Get clever and you’ll figure out your options.

Also consider making yourself more valuable by getting trained in First Aid, CPR, Defibrillator use, and more.  The more you show that you have health knowledge, the better.  Any psychological training, any health training, etc.  All of this will serve you in the long run.

Best of Luck!

Think about what it may take and get it done!  Never give up.  It is your dream and wish to help other people, so help yourself first so you can obtain the position you want.  You can do it!

My intention here is to give many of you who aren’t already in the field but are interested some insight into what it’s like to work as a substance abuse counselor.  It’s an interesting field, and you will meet some very amazing people.  You will, without a doubt, have the time of your lives and create memories and stories that you’ll never forget.  You will have stories to share forever!

So before you begin the long, hard path of gaining your certification and putting in the many hours required, you can read these tales and see if it’s something you’d be interested in.

One of the big pitfalls of life is thinking a career is something that it’s not.  It’s easy to idealize and fantasize and not even consider the hardships that come along with the awesomeness that we imagine.  That is life.  Hopefully with this blog you can make a more clear choice after reading the experiences of myself and others.

So that’s what the blog is about.  Stick around and keep coming back to find more and more posts as time progresses.  If you found your way to the blog without checking out the main portion of the site, click here to go check out all of the highly informing articles on the main site.  Until next time, keep studying and keep those good intentions of helping out others!

Substance Abuse Rehabilitation – The Why

Substance abuse rehabilitation is a necessity in the face of psychological and physical drug dependency.  The method of reducing and removing this dependency is to teach the patient new ways of living, coping, and being in a substance-free environment.  This is done by immediately removing the environmental exposure to the substance, including socially.  The user must find a new set of friends who do not associate with the drug culture.  Not only must the person stop use without straying, but they must use insight and introspection to examine the habits related to their use and change them as well.    Moderation is considered unsustainable and a failure.  Completely abstaining is the only way to ensure a full recovery, as recovery is not a goal but a process.  It is a never ending process.  It is a new lifestyle and a new life culture that must be lived every moment for the rest of the patient’s life.

Substance Abuse Rehabilitation – The Types and How

As discussed in other articles such as Substance Abuse Programs, there are several types of substance abuse rehabilitation, including inpatient treatment in residential and wilderness facilities, outpatient, local recovery support groups, sober houses and halfway houses, and there are age and gender specific programs as well.

Scientific research that has been gathered since the Seventies shows that the most effective styles of treatment attend to multiple needs of the substance abuser.  The first and foremost is detoxification.  Medically assisted detox is the first stage of a many staged treatment and by itself does not increase the probability of long-term recovery.  Medication and behavioral therapy combined helps maintain the positive gains of detoxification.  Behavioral therapy will include physical and psychological behavior.  Treatments should address all aspects of life including medical and psychological health services, as well as aftercare options.  This all occurs in a controlled environment staffed with substance abuse counselors, therapists, doctors, psychiatrists, and other trained technicians to ensure the best chance at permanent recovery without relapse.  Staying out of relapse requires the patient to truly want to break free from addiction.

Substance abuse rehabilitation is often included in the legal punishment of the criminal justice system.  Addicts convicted of minor offenses related to substance use may be made to go to rehab instead of jail or prison.  They may also be made to undergo counseling and therapy as many substance abusers are dual diagnosis patients with mental health issues as well.

Substance Abuse Rehabilitation – Approaches

Substance abuse rehabilitation has several historical approaches and different treatment centers may engage in certain types and not others.  There is the disease model of addiction that involves attending twelve-step program meetings.  This approach claims that there is a biological disease that causes addiction and it is made to flare up with environmental factors.  This insinuates the first step of the twelve, that the person is powerless over their addiction.  This requires constant maintenance therapy through recovery groups such as Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous.

There is a client-centered approach based upon the work of psychologist Carl Rogers and his three necessities and conditions of personal change.  These are unconditional positive regard, accurate empathy, and genuineness.  The therapist must be able to give these and the patient must be able to receive.  There is also the psychoanalytic approach developed by psychologist Sigmund Freud that claims that addiction and substance abuse is an unconscious reaction to the need to entertain certain sexual fantasies and a reaction to suppressing acting these fantasies out.  There are also cognitive models of substance abuse rehabilitation such as relapse prevention based on cognitive-behavioral therapy, emotional regulation, and mindfulness.  These are meant to help identify and positively react to maladaptive emotions and feelings.

There are many types of substance abuse rehabilitations and it is up to each substance abuse counselor to educate themselves on the types and levels of intensity of each in order to properly refer each client as per their needs.

Types of Substance Abuse Treatment

There are several types of substance abuse treatment facilities and programs available that incorporate many styles of living arrangements and therapy.  Choosing the correct level of treatment is important for recovery.  You don’t want to under or overdo it.  Consider the following options for you or your loved ones to find help or employment as a substance abuse counselor:

• Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
• Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
• Teen Inpatient/Wilderness Programs
• Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities for Women
• Dual Diagnosis Substance Abuse Treatment Centers

The differences in the options above lie largely in the living arrangements.  Outpatient programs involve traveling to the center for therapy and recovery support while still going to work or school and living at home.  The others require living at the treatment site in isolation away from the tempations in the environment and the stresses of work, school, and society.  Wilderness programs remove even the stressors of modern day life, such as items related to electricity, etc.  They take you back to nature and help you get to the core of you and your problem.  It is an amazing opportunity.  Teen and women centered facilities offer specially molded for these demographics.

The Main Principles of Substance Abuse Treatment

Substance abuse treatment has been going on for quite some time now and has developed some main principles that must be targeted to ensure recovery.  There are three main principles that can be found in all substance abuse treatments and facilities, and these are:

1. Detoxification
2. Counseling
3. Aftercare

Detoxification is the first step in recovery.  A person may be resistant to treatment and require an intervention.  They may not be able to think clearly enough to even decide they are damaging themselves until they have undergone detoxification.  Detox is the process of allowing the substances in the body to metabolize and exit the body so the individual can continue functioning without a physical dependence upon it.  This can be difficult as the person will most likely experience withdrawal symptoms so severely it can lead to relapse just to relieve the discomfort.

Counseling comes after detoxification and stabilization has occured.  They can now respond to therapy.  Counseling involves processing with a professional therapist, whether that be a psychologist or a substance abuse counselor.  They help patients learn triggers, process problems that encourage substance abuse, develop better decision making skills, etc.

Aftercare is the final principle of substance abuse treatment.  Aftercare programs are similar to outpatient therapy, but mainly include recovery group support, sober living homes, and follow-up counseling at the treatment center.

Substance Abuse Treatment – Payment and Completion Time

Addiction takes a heavy financial toll on an individual and family, during the substance abuse and during the treatment.  Substance abuse treatment centers can cost several thousands of dollars per month to enroll and attend.  People who choose to use private pay will find this a heavy burden, however major health insurance companies are offering an increasing amount of coverage for substance abuse treatment.  There is the outpatient treatment option which costs much less than a residential option.

While most substance abuse treatment programs last for one to three months, some residential programs can average to six months, with some patients staying for over a year, especially in the teenage programs.  This long amount of time is needed for the cognitive and behavioral changes to take place in the addicted person.  The longer programs are great for those who have difficulty with resisting temptation and relapse, or have become a life-threatening danger to themselves or others.  These are also great for those who are dealing with mental illness as well, such as the dual diagnosis patients.

A substance abuse counselor has many great opportunities to work at these various types of substance abuse treatment centers.  Society is fortunate to have access to these many programs.  Please educate yourself and others on what is available!

Army Substance Abuse Program – Mission

The mission of ACSAP, especially within the Army Substance Abuse Program, is broadly to increase the overall level of effectivness and fitness in the Army’s workforce.  This is meant to conserve manpower and enchance the combat readiness of its employees.  The solider’s overall fitness is to be improved by the objectives of ACSAP, which are as follows:

Improve the individual fitness of each soldier as well as the overall unit’s readiness for combat.
Provide preventitive and proactive help and immediate response to the needs of the Army’s soldiers in regards to substance abuse.
Deter, prevent, educate, and rehabilitate the Army’s workforce.
Reduce risk and employ prevention strategies to remove problems in thought and environment before it causes career problems.
Rehabilitate and restore to active duty those soldiers who are able to continue service.
Provide substance abuse services at all levels of command.
Provide and promote substance-free leisure activity.

Army Substance Abuse Program – Principles

The Army Substance Abuse Program principles all include an emphasis on readiness for combat and personal responsibility.  Commanders ensure that all Army Substance Abuse Program personnel abide by these rules and principles, and any deviations must be proposed to the director of the program and be approved.  The two main tenets of the army substance abuse program are prevention and treatment.

In order to accomplish these ideals, the army substance abuse program means to educate, train, and deter substance use.  Random drug testing is the primary mechanism of dettering use.  Identifying workers as current or potential abusers helps contain the problem.  This can be done through an indepth biopsychosocial evaluation.  Screening before employment is mandatory.  Soldiers may be referred to the EAP services by self-referral or comman referral.  Rehab and risk reduction keep all soldiers at fullest capacity for work and combat readiness.

Army Substance Abuse Program – Eligibility

The army substance abuse program services are available only to those who are eligible.  So what are the eligibility requirements?  The ASAP services are available to those authorized as personnel who may receive medical services from the military as active soldiers or under the Federal Civilian Employees Occupational Health Services Program.  Eligibility also includes:

U.S. citizen Department of Defense civilian employees
Foreign national employees where arrangements and agreements require providing medical services
Retired military members
Family relations of eligible employees covered under the specific provisions
Members of other military when under the administrative jurisdiction of an Army commander
Non-uniformed outside continental U.S. employees who are eligible to receive medical benefits

The army substance abuse program is a great boon to our soldiers who face great demands in battle and sadly sometimes turn to substance use for relief.  A substance abuse counselor may find employment in this program and provide amazing benefit to those in need who protect and defend our freedom.

Unfortunately, the correlation works both ways: not only are substance abusers more likely to be violent, but violent people are more likely to be substance abusers. Some studies have shown that the rate of substance abuse and domestic violence in men deemed to be violent is roughly three times higher than other men.

Substance abuse and domestic violence are related in a couple of important ways:

1. Substance abuse causes an extreme amount of stress in families and relationships.
2. Substances lower inhibitions.

These reasons are why substance abuse and domestic violence go hand in hand.  Law enforcement agencies have reported substance abuse is involved in at least 50% of all domestic violence situations.

One common misconception regarding substance abuse and domestic violence is that substance abusers are not in control of their behavior.  These people have just as much control of deciding if and when to hit their partner as any other batterer.  If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation, please call local authorities or a domestic violence hotline regardless of whether the batterer was under the influence when the domestic violence occurred.

Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence – The Good News

The good news about substance abuse and domestic violence is that since they so often go hand in hand, many substance abuse programs address issues of domestic violence, as well.  Substance abuse and domestic violence are so often related, a person may receive treatment for both substance abuse and domestic violence all within the same treatment program.   This is good news not only from a financial point of view for the client, but also because a counselor can address some of the deeper issues of why the client is suffering from substance abuse and domestic violence.  This means that a client who may not have sought help for his or her problems with domestic violence often receives treatment when he or she seeks treatment for a substance abuse problem.

Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence- The Final Word

It is important to remember that substance abuse and domestic violence do not cause each other to happen but that there is a statistical correlation between the two.  Because people who abuse substances are more likely to use violence and people who use violence are more likely to cope by using drugs or alcohol, these issues must be treated simultaneously.  Although they do not cause one another, substance abuse and domestic violence feed off of one another.

The final important link between substance abuse and domestic violence comes not with the batterer but the victim.  Victims of domestic violence are more likely to become substance abusers later in life to cope with the trauma.  This means that substance abuse and domestic violence work together in a cycle of destruction that can only be addressed through appropriate interventions and treatment.  A substance abuse counselor is a key player in destroying this chain of destruction.

Women and Substance Abuse – The Why

As we’ve learned over the years, substance abuse has long been connected with high stress and pressures.  Some research has shown that the link between women and substance abuse may have something to do with the increase of women in high pressure positions in the workforce.  More and more women are turning to substance use to relieve them of the stress of balancing their careers and families.  Self-medicating and seeking an escape from stress are two large contributors to the combination of women and substance abuse.

A common theme in current research regarding women in the workforce is women and substance abuse.  With more single mothers than ever before, more women in high power positions and more women running a household in addition to a business, the link between women and substance abuse is by no means coincidental.

Besides stress, research has found a link between women and substance abuse and mental illness.  More women turn to substance use due to mental illness than men.  Science has not found a good reason as to why more mentally ill women turn to drugs and alcohol than men do.  It is important to continue our research in substance abuse counseling to learn more about why this happens and how we can help prevent and treat this problem.

Women And Substance Abuse – The Difference

Because substance abuse has long been focused as a problem that mostly men face, little is known about women and substance abuse.  Research has shown that women abuse drugs and alcohol much differently than men do.  While men may begin using in social situations, women often hide their substance use and use alone.

Another difference is purely biological.  Because men metabolize drugs and alcohol more quickly than women, women tend to feel the effects of substances sooner and more dramatically.  Some studies have suggested that the combination of women and substance abuse is increasingly more common because women crave substances during their hormonal cycle.

Women and Substance – Treatment

Because of the increasing occurrence of women and substance abuse, women-specific treatment programs are becoming more and more common.  These treatment programs are not much different from men’s programs or co-ed programs, but they do differ slightly in the sense that they tend to focus more on women and substance abuse and how it is tied to codependency and emotionality.

The research has shown that women turn from casual use to addiction much quicker than men do, which has caused more treatment facilities to turn to women-specific programs.  Women have also shown that they are more likely to stay clean after treatment than men.  When it comes to women and substance abuse treatment, facilities are very careful in making these programs comfortable for women to be open and honest, as many women turn to substance abuse because of physical and emotional abuse or trauma.  For this reason, many women and substance abuse treatment programs are careful to have women-only staff, therapists and substance abuse counselors so as to avoid a potentially threatening presence of men.

Substance Abuse Programs – The Types

There are many variations of treatment in substance abuse programs.  They are listed in increasing levels of intensity as follows:

• Prevention
• Recovery Groups
• Outpatient
• Inpatient/Residential
• Outdoor/Wilderness

 Let us discuss these in increasing levels of treatment intensity.  The first type is the substance abuse prevention program.  This is especially targeted towards children in terms of young teenagers in the elementary and high school age groups.  The goal of prevention is to educate children, not only on what substances are and their effects, but what social groups to avoid, and how to say no with confidence to someone who offers you an illicit substance.  Knowing why you want to say no and believing it is so important for youngsters.  Educating the children prevents them from becoming substance abusers as older teenagers and adults.  It is like taking a flu shot.  D.A.R.E. is a great example of a substance abuse program based on prevention.

The next most intensive level of substance abuse programs are the recovery groups such as Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous.  These are groups of like-experienced people who gather together regularly to support one another’s recovery.  They discuss how they arrived at the point they find themselves in, they discuss how it has destroyed the life they previously built, and they support each other and guard one another from relapse.  This constant support is key.  Recovery is not something you do.  It is something you live.  It is a culture that you now must be a part of to safeguard from relapse.

Substance abuse programs include many types.  The next most intensive is the outpatient program.  These include attending recovery groups but also feature group therapy and individual therapy.  The patient will attend these group therapy sessions which is a more formal group which is led by a therapist and/or substance abuse counselor and guided professionally towards supporting recovery and gaining insight into personal problems that may have driven the patient towards substance abuse.  They have the same, more confidential discussions with their therapist or substance abuse counselor individually in private sessions.  These dig deeper into the personal history of the person.  The people who join an outpatient program are subject to regularly scheduled drug tests to ensure the person has not continued use.  Detoxification is very important to begin seeing and thinking clearly in order to support recovery.  Outpatient sbustance abuse programs allow the individual to continue living at home and going to work.

Inpatient and residential therapies are substance abuse programs that include all of the aspects of the outpatient, recovery, and prevention programs.  The main difference is the person now lives on site at the treatment center.  They do not leave.  They are now isolated and removed from the negative social situations and environments which supported their substance abuse.  They are monitored every moment and drug tested regularly and if they leave on a therapeutic assignment, such as going to a recovery group or seeing their family, they are searched and tested upon return. 

The absolute most intensive substance abuse program is the outdoor and wilderness programs.  They include all aspects of the residential treatment centers, but they are in the wilderness.  I currently work at one of these facilities as has my partner who helps operate this site.  It is stressful even on us as substance abuse counselors, and much more on the patients.  They will be stressed.  There is no electricity.  There is no air-conditioning.  If it is cold, the patients will cross-saw and chop their own firewood.  There are vocational therapies and projects included.  There are activity therapies such as the ropes course and more.  Complete isolation occurs here and all of the distractions are removed.  This is not to make things harder, but to make life simpler for the patient so they can concentrate on their recovery work.  It is so relieving to return to nature, to our original nature, away from the modern stresses.  It allows us to look into our core and take a personal inventory and rebuild our cognitive frameworks and foundations.  It is important to mention that these inpatient, residential, and wilderness programs that are intended for young people have schools as well so regular education may continue.

Substance Abuse Programs – Amazing Opportunities

Substance abuse programs are amazing opportunities for an individual to find his or her path to recovery.  It is a great chance for a substance abuse counselor to find experience and work in order to give back to the society that has supported them.  Substance abuse programs quite literally save lives every single day.  They change lives.  There is no other way of saying it.  The gift of recovery is the gift of life and the gift of a high quality of life.  Please help friends and loved ones take advantage of these.  Substance abuse counselors work in the field at these centers of operation mainly.  Become familiar with them.  They are their own universes.  Each one is a special place that take in sick people in need of help and return them to society as healthy friends.  If you need to find one, search the internet.  There are lists of all the available ones in your state or any state.

Consider what effect substance use has on a grown adult with a large brain mass and fat percentage and other factors that affect metabolism of substances and their subjective effects on the user.  Now consider substance abuse during pregnancy.  What must the unborn child experience when exposed to these strong substances?  Substance abuse during pregnancy increases risk of stillbirth and premature birth, as a very large threat.  There are other threats as well.

Substance Abuse During Pregnancy – Specific Threats

In addition to stillbirth and premature birth, there are specific threats in regards to specific substances.  Do not smoke at all.  Smoking can pass nicotine and carcinogens to your fetus.  Do not drink at all.  It can cause life-long physical, psychological, and behavioral issues for children, including fetal alcohol syndrome.  This very detrimental to children as a youth and adult.  Using illegal substances can lead to having underweight and underdeveloped babies, birth defects, and even withdrawal symptoms after being born.  If you or someone you know needs help refraining from substance abuse during pregnancy, seek professional and medical help.  It can cause great harm to you and your unborn child.

Almost four percent of women with child are engaging in substance abuse during pregnancy.  Sadly, substance abuse during pregnancy also poses other risks and threats to the fetus as it affects the woman’s behavior in other aspects of her life.  The child may be subject to poor nutrition and sexually transmitted diseases and infections.  Substance abuse during pregnancy can slow fetal growth and decrease the length of pregnancy, increasing the probability of premature birth.  Children who experience withdrawal symptoms after birth will tremble and excessively cry, leading to other issues in regards to the parents as well.  Children in withdrawal will have risks associated with symptoms such as fever, irritability, sneezing, diarrhea, vomiting, hypersensitivity, and seizures.  There is also the chance of sudden infant death syndrome.

Another thing to consider is that substance abuse reduces fertility in men and women, reducing the possibility of pregnancy.  Children exposed to the variety of substances experience problems related to attention, concentration, IQ level, and other cognitive issues.  There are birth defects to be concerned about as well, including clubfoot, congential heart dfects, placental problems, cleft lip, and cleft palate. 

Substance Abuse During Pregnancy

Substance abuse during pregnancy is a major problem for infants.  Illegal substances are widespread.  They are available the world around and are more easily obtainable than any of us is comfortable with.  The amount of issues related to substance abuse during pregnancy for the adults and child are counted so high that it is unbelievable that people still engage in this behavior.  The massive amount of disrespect for the self and for others, including helpless unborn people, is quite literally insane.  A person who disregards life itself obviously has other psychological issues going on.  Consider treatment for substance abuse and mental health for your loved ones with these issues.  As a substance abuse counselor, you must be well knowledgable on these topics.  Please read and memorize!

Regulating the access of substances is a great start, but the individual must be educated as well.  It is best to begin by focusing on minors.  Teenagers and children are both impressionable, so managing their impression of substances can affect their risk of substance abuse greatly.  Placing emphasis on gateway drugs is important as they lead to the use of harder chemicals.

Substance Abuse Prevention – Factors Placing Us At Risk

There are many factors that place someone at risk of substance abuse.  This has been corroborated by rigourous research.  Decreasing these factors decreases the probability of substance abuse later.  Substance abuse prevention starts with being aware of the risk factors.  These include environmental factors such as preventables at home including child abuse, lack of supervision, exposure and a positive drug culture in the home, media influence, and social factors such as peer pressure.  Other factors include the child’s internal worldview, such as his or her self-esteem, attitudes about substances, poor social skills including learning how to say no.  There are genetic and brain factors as well, including neurotransmitter levels and brain regions shared with addiction.  Helping these children before being exposed to transitional periods in life is a large help.  If a child is experiencing a parental divorce, a move, puberty, and other life changes, he or she is at an increased risk for substance abuse.  Substance abuse prevention is a key and integral part of decreasing the chance of substance abuse at these times.  Protective factors include being knowledgeable about the topic.  Programs such as D.A.R.E. are invaluable in this regard.  Other protective factors are positive family relations, social bonds, parental monitoring of the child’s activites and social circle, and clear, dilineated boundaries and consequences.  The greatest is probably high self-esteem.  In addition to D.A.R.E., a substance abuse counselor should be aware of other community and school based substance abuse prevention programs like Life Skills Training (L.S.T.), Project ALERT, and Reach Out.  Despite these programs, there should be a familial, religious or spiritual, and social program in place.  Family, friends, and community leaders should be involved constantly with the youth they encounter in this regards, setting positive models and negating positive views of substances.

Substance Abuse Prevention – Other Methods

In addition to using substance abuse prevention before substance use occurs at all, there are always methods such as interventions that should occur before use develops into abuse and addiction.  Boarding schools, residential treatment centers, group and individual therapies, outpatient treatment, recovery groups, and more are available as substance abuse prevention.  The community is moving towards full support for substance abuse prevention.  Let us all get on board and further this movement.