How Long Should Addiction Treatment Last?
It’s a question that most families, and their loved ones suffering from substance abuse, ask – how long does a typical course of substance abuse treatment last? There is no specific number to answer that question — it all depends on the individual. After all, each client has a different set of challenges, beliefs and needs. The specific substance of abuse, along with quantity, frequency and history of use all contribute to the time it will take to receive appropriate care.
Naloxone – The New, Lifesaving Drug?
The opiate overdose epidemic has hit home on every level. On one hand, the news and entertainment industries have finally given the issue the respect and coverage it deserves. On the other hand, the problem has become so severe that it would be almost impossible to ignore. From the inner city to affluent suburbs (See our blog post on heroin 2.0) the problem is growing…fast.
Naloxone, also known by its trade name Narcan, has emerged as the first line of defense in the fight against opioid overdose. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, a compound which essentially binds to the opioid receptors of the brain, keeping the opioids themselves at bay. Naloxone itself does not cause a high, nor can it be abused.
Ben Brafman on “Fox & Friends”
Ben Brafman, President and CEO of Destination Hope, visits the “Fox & Friends” studio to discuss The Academy for Addiction Professionals and his age-specific and gender-specific programs on their national morning show. Check out the segment below:
Narcan Education & Information Session
The Academy for Addiction Professionals invites you to a Narcan Education and Information Session
When: Thursday, January 21, 2016 from 10am until 12pm
Where: Palm Beach County SubstanceAwareness Coalition located at 2300 High Ridge Rd. Boynton Beach, FL 33426.
The session will be led by Micah Robbins, the Director of Special Projects for the Palm Beach County Substance Awareness Coalition, Chad Sabora, Founder of the Missouri Network for Opiate Reform and Recovery, and Justin Kunzelman with Rebel Recovery in Florida. This session will be followed by a Narcan Training, which will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2016.
What is it and who is leading the training?
Narcan (Naloxone) is an injectable that is used to treat narcotic overdose in emergency situations. The training will be lead by Dr. Jay Kuchera, a graduate of the University of Florida School of Medicine. He served his internship at the University of Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital and is board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. He is also a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Academy of Pain Management.
Dr. Kuchera will be training on when Narcan (Naloxone) should be administered, the proper use of Narcan and why it is important for family members, government officials, and treatment professionals to be educated on Narcan, as well as why they should have Narcan available in an emergency situation. This session and training is open to anyone. Attendees typically include law enforcement and government officials, mothers, fathers and all family members of those affected by addiction, professionals in the field including counselors, therapists, sober living owners, treatment center managers or owners, nurses, and social workers.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are offered by The Academy for Addiction Professionals. More details to follow. Admission to this information session is complimentary, but space is limited. Attendance is on a first come, first serve basis. You must register by emailing the Program Director Shira Ackerman shira@addictionacademy.com with the names of all attendees.
The Effectiveness (If Any) of E-Therapy
E-Therapy represents the latest in access to care for the scores of Americans that suffer from mental illness, but do not have appropriate or accessible care nearby. The concept, in its most basic form, is to conduct a professional course of therapy remotely – without face to face contact. This can include screening, assessment and creating a treatment plan along with the structured treatment itself. Proponents of e-therapy righty state that it can reduce costs and increase access for millions of Americans. Critics, also with legitimate opinions, have concerns that there is a lot we still do not know about e-therapy and how effective or appropriate it may be for patients.
Mentoring – Improving Care and Leaving a Legacy
As addiction counselors, we seek to make a difference – a lasting impression on those with whom we work and on those whom we treat today and have helped in the past. There is no greater satisfaction than to feel like we have made a difference. As many counselors pass through the prime and into the twilight of their careers, they may stop for a moment and wonder if they have done enough. Was all their effort worth it? What would they leave behind if today were their last day as a counselor?
Mentoring can make the answer very clear.
Surgeon General Announces a Breakthrough Report
The Surgeon General of the United States recently announced plans for the first-ever Surgeon General’s Report on substance abuse, addiction and mental health. This is a groundbreaking and exciting time in the fight against substance abuse and mental health problems. While it seems that we have no lack of reports and studies on these diseases, the Surgeon General’s Report represents a new level of focus on fighting these epidemics on a national, political scale.
What is Role Incompatibility?
In a recent industry news blog post, we described how younger folks often curtail their heavy drinking tendencies when they get married. The working theory behind this is Role Incompatibility. But what is role incompatibility and how does it affect the treatment process?
Role incompatibility is the theory that when a person enters a new role (such as being married) their former habits often do not mesh with their new life. Because they want to be good at their new role, they tend to eliminate, or at least improve, the destructive and incompatible behavior of the past.
Financial Stresses and Substance Abuse
Stress can cause a myriad of serious psychological and physical ailments. And one of the most prevalent sources of stress revolves around finances. After all, there is usually an escape from home life stress or the daily grind of work – however financial stresses seem to linger 24×7.
On a day like October 24, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average opened almost 1100 points lower, capping off a run of a few days that collectively lost investors trillions of dollars, those prone to stress can come apart at the seams. Much like other major down days in the past, fear and panic gripped one of the biggest sources of wealth in the United States. Many worried we were doomed.
Disparities in Behavioral Health – An Analysis of a recent SAMHSA Report
To mark National Minority Health month in July, SAMHSA released a report on the disparities of behavioral health between ethnic groups in the United States. Using statistics from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an analysis was conducted to see the influence of various factors including ethnicity, income levels, location and health insurance status.
