Substance Abuse Counseling

SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING TRAINING AND ADDICTIVE PRESCIPTIONS

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Warning Label: Most Addictive Prescriptions on the Market Today

Prescription medications are among the most abused substances in the United State. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) about 16 million people report using a prescription drug for a nonmedical reason. Stimulants, depressants, and opiates are the most commonly abused prescriptions. Opiates, in particular, are part of a major epidemic in the U.S. The following are the most addictive prescription pain medications currently on the market.

Hydrocodone
Hydrocodone (codeine) is a pain reliever that may be prescribed alone or combined with ibuprofen or aspirin. Hydrocodone is an opiate drug derived from poppy. When abused, codeine can cause euphoria as well as intense withdrawal symptoms.

Oxycodone
Oxycodone, sometimes simply called oxy and sold under the brand name OxyContin, is also an opiate painkiller derived from poppy. This drug is usually formulated with ibuprofen or another over-the-counter pain medication and prescribed for moderate to severe pain. Oxycodone can cause a euphoric effect and many people who become addicted do so while using it according to their doctor’s instruction. Oxycodone users are at risk of both physical and psychological dependence.
Percocet, a brand name of oxycodone, is a notoriously addictive medication that can lead to heart failure when taken in excessive amounts to produce the sense of euphoria. People who take Percocet or OxyContin are at risk of physical dependency after just a couple of weeks, even when taken as prescribed.

Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a highly potent and addictive painkiller. As with other opiates, fentanyl can cause euphoria, lethargy, and mellowness. This synthetic drug is about 50-100 times more powerful than morphine and is usually prescribed for severe pain, such as pain following surgery. The NIDA warns that the heroin epidemic of the last few years is now leading the way to a fentanyl epidemic. This drug has killed 47,000 people between 2014 and 2016.

Meperidine
Sold under the brand name Demerol, meperidine has a similar effect as an opiate but it is a synthetic drug created in a lab. Demerol is usually prescribed to relieve moderate to severe pain. While it was designed to be less addictive than most opiates, it has a high potential of dependency. Meperidine can lead to euphoria as well as confusion, seizures, and delirium.

Physicians can take many steps to reduce prescription abuse in their practice. This includes using databases like MedPro Systems that adhere to PDMA regulations and watching for warning signs of drug abuse in patients. The PDMA regulates pharmaceutical samples and has more information about regulations on their site. If you are worried about the painkillers you’ve been prescribed, talk to your doctor about the possible side effects and addictive tendencies they have.

If you would like to learn more about substance abuse counseling training, then also please review our program in it at AIHCP

 

Brief interventions in primary care clinics could curb patients’ drug use: Preventing drug use from becoming addiction would have health, financial benefits

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

A few minutes of counseling in a primary care setting could be an effective tool in steering people away from risky drug use, and possibly full-fledged addiction, a new report suggests. The researchers found that this sort of intervention helped patients reduce their risky drug use by one-third.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.sciencedaily.com

Good article in how good substance abuse counseling can steer people away from risky drug use to start and hence prevent addiction from every beginning.

If you would like to learn more about substance abuse counseling then please review the program and see if it matches your academic and professional needs

#SUBSTANCEABUSECOUNSELING

Adolescent painkiller abuse a big problem for small towns, rural areas

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Adolescents who live in rural areas and small towns and cities are more likely to abuse prescription painkillers than adolescents who live in large urban areas, according to sociologists.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.sciencedaily.com

Pain killers are a serious issue for children.  The addictive nature of pain killers has ruined many people’s lives.  This is why it is so important to regulate these pain killers in appropriate way and for parents to also watch over prescribed pain killers in their homes

If you would like to learn more about AIHCP’s substance abuse counselor program then please review and see if training to help others is something you would like to do

#substanceabusecounselorprogram

Most Addicts Are Victims Of Abuse: Substance Abuse Counselor Program

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Local News – Most addicts ‘are victims of abuse’

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.gdnonline.com

Sad reality that most addicts and substance abuse issues stem from abuse.  The abuse can cause many mental injuries that lead people to drugs and misuse of them

It is so sad that individuals of physical or sexual abuse are not given the help they need to overcome the trauma of abuse.  Instead they turn to drugs to hide their pain.  Substance Abuse Counselors can help.  You can also become a Substance Abuse Counselor and help.

If you would like to become a substance abuse counselor then please review the program

#substanceabusecounselor

Born an addict: Clues from umbilical cords

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Every baby born that enters this world, arrives with an umbilical cord in tow. For those babies born addicted to drugs, that umbilical cord is now a key connection — a hard to hide clue — for identifying what drugs are coursing through a newborn’s veins. The drug(s) detected will help physicians determine the best treatment and what withdrawal symptoms to expect.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.sciencedaily.com

It is especially sad when a child is born into the world with addiction flowing through his or her veins because of an abusing mother.  This article looks at what doctors can learn from the umbilical cord.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a certified substance abuse counselor then please review

#certifiedsubstanceabusecounselor

Survey: Substance Use Among The Homeless – Bernews.com

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The Ministry of National Security, through the Department for National Drug Control, has completed the first ever survey of substance use among homeless residents, Premier & Minister of National Security Michael Dunkley said in the House of Assembly today [May 29]

Sourced through Scoop.it from: bernews.com

An interesting article and survey on homeless people and drug use and addiction.  You may be surprised from some of these statistics

If you would like to learn more about Substance Abuse Counseling Training, then please review the program and see if it matches your academic and professional needs

#substanceabusecounselingtraining

Substance Abuse Counseling Training: Prescription Drug Abuse

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

How to Recognize and Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse

America spent more than $260 billion on prescription drugs in 2011, according to recent government reports. As a result, about 50 percent of all Americans are taking at least one prescription drug, with 10 percent consuming four or more.

While doctors are prescribing fewer “useless” antibiotics, mainly due to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, consumption of pain medication is on the rise, creating an equally dangerous situation for patients. The use of opioid analgesics, a class of drugs designed to suppress your perception of pain by binding to opioid receptors, has increased a whopping 300 percent from1999-2010. Unfortunately, an increase of that caliber does not come with consequences.

During that time, death rates in people ages 15 and older involving pain medications more than tripled, highlighting America’s new drug problem.

Unmasking Prescription Drug Abuse

As a healthcare professional, you’re trained to help people and not judge them, which can make for an uncomfortable situation when addressing potential drug abuse in patients. Fortunately, other healthcare workers can offer support in identifying and preventing this problem.

Nearly 70 percent of patients visit their physician at least once every two years, placing doctors in a unique situation to not only treat, but identify drug abuse in patients. According to Jay Rooth, Orlando Criminal Defense Attorney, the most commonly abused drugs are opioids, anti-anxiety medication and stimulants.

Detecting “Doctor Shopping”

While symptoms vary according to which drug patients may be hooked on, one of the most common signs to look for is “doctor shopping,” the practice of visiting multiple physicians in hopes of obtaining several prescriptions. Physicians can detect doctor shopping by checking state RX reporting systems, which document and report all prescription drug transactions to the state Board of Pharmacy. This system can be a powerful tool in helping healthcare workers to identify drug abuse.

Pinpointing Symptoms of Drug Abuse

Other symptoms of drug abuse include frequent visits to the doctor and unscheduled refill requests. People addicted to prescription drugs often exhibit signs of emotional distress including depression, confusion, irritability and poor judgment. Physical symptoms of drug abuse may include weight loss, irregular heartbeat, restlessness, involuntary and rapid eye movement, decreased breathing rate and poor coordination.

Empathy Goes a Long Way

Offering compassion, rather than criticism, is key in helping patients overcome prescription drug addiction. A trusting doctor-patient relationship opens the doorway for better communication, making the patient more likely to ask for help.

Conclusion

Rates of prescription drug abuse are on the rise, with addicts and other abusers finding new means of obtaining drugs and keeping their habit undetected all the time. Considering the risks associated with these behaviors, it is crucial for healthcare professionals to know how to detect and prevent the abuse of prescription drugs.

About the Author: Marlena Stoddard is a freelance writer who received her BA from the University of Georgia.

 

If you are interested in Substance Abuse Counseling Training, then please review the program

 

Patients With Substance Abuse History Are More Likely To Misuse Therapeutic Opioids, Study Finds

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Physicians prescribing opioids are more often than not looking for ways to evaluate patients more effectively. Knowing more about a patient’s history can assist practitioners with making decisions on pain management treatment options. Understanding a patient’s struggle with substance abuse could be a good place to start.

Source: www.forbes.com

This article looks at substance abuse and the likely addiction to therapeutic opioids.   Physicians need to have a good understanding of patient history regarding substance abuse before prescribing

If you are interested in becoming a certified substance abuse counselor, then please review the program

#certifiedsubstanceabusecounselor

Substance Abuse Practitioner: Underage Drinking.

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Alcohol Abuse In Teenagers And How A  Substance Abuse Practitioner Can Handle It

by: Donna Planton, MA

Substance abuse has a certain connection the youth population of the world, and most of the addictions start at a young age. Whether it is use of marijuana, opium drugs or alcohol, the youth has been drawn towards these health deteriorating substances like moth to a flame. In order to help teenagers understand the alarming risks of alcohol abuse, we as parents and responsible adults must get to the root of the cause and help them part ways from alcohol addiction, which is responsible for destroying millions of families and individual lives.

Why Do Teenagers Start Drinking?

Teenagers are quite vulnerable to alcohol use and there is a good chance that you’ve had a beer or two while you were still legally young to do so. Since most of the adults around the house may enjoy a drink every now and then, which makes it easier for them to get a hold of the alcoholic drinks right at home. Teenage is a sensitive time when the person goes through groundbreaking physical and psychological changes which compels them to become risk takers or rebel against their parents by doing things they are forbidden to. The added stress of problems in their social or personal life influences teenagers to drink.

The AAR (Advancing Alcohol Responsibility) is an organization that has been supporting the cause of teen age alcohol abuse prevention for more than 20 years. A study conducted by the organization in 2013 reveals that 9 million youngsters, ranging from the age of 12 to 20 in the USA have consumed alcohol in the past 30 days. This alcohol consumption rate has been escalating ever since, with reports that alcohol consumption is prevalent in 12 year olds by 1%, 16 year olds by 18% and in 20 year olds by an alarming 52%. Almost 8% of the teenagers revealed that they usually do binge drinking, or consume more than 5 drinks in a row. These statistics have been rising every year, as many shocking cases of teen age alcohol abuse surface every day.

What Are The Causes Of Teen Age Alcohol Abuse?

It has been generally accepted that addiction to alcohol or any other substance for that matter is not the result of a singular factor. A complex environment involving genetics, social standards, psychological and physical factors are the cause of addictions. Studies show that genetics also play an important role if the teenager is born into a family where are relative is closely affected by addictions well. Although they are potentially at higher risks to develop an alcohol addiction than their peers who do not have a family history of addiction, alcohol addiction can develop in individuals without any profound family history of alcohol abuse.

Medical studies show that teenage alcohol abuse is also a root cause of underdevelopment of the brain. Teenagers who drink chronically or use it repeatedly may develop addictions easily as their still-developing brain grows affinity towards alcohol. The environment of the teenager also dictates whether they are susceptible to alcohol addiction or not. Whether it is about coping with the intense pressure of school and college, the stress of a broken family or the peer pressure among friends, drinking regularly in these situations can escalate their chances of developing a substance abuse problem.

What Are The Symptoms Of Teen Age Alcohol Abuse

The symptoms of developing alcohol abuse problem in teenagers can largely vary depending upon their genetic makeup, usage of other drugs, the amount of alcohol they consume and their frequency of drinking. However, the most common symptoms that can be used to identify a developing alcohol abuse problem in teenagers include:

Behavioral Symptoms:

  • · Sudden changes in the academic performance of the teenager.
  • · Change in the group of friends and companions.
  • · No interest in the activities that they previously enjoyed doing.
  • · Lowered care for one’s self and personal hygiene.
  • · Unusual passively aggressive and argumentative behavior.
  • · Usage of alcohol in spite of previous consequences.

Physical Symptoms:

  • · Distinctive smell of alcohol from breath or clothes.
  • · Bloodshot or glazed eyes all the time.
  • · Reddened skin and garbled speech.
  • · Deteriorated physical condition with disturbed sleeping patterns.
  • · Problems with physical coordination and double vision.

What Can Parents Do About Teen Age Alcohol Abuse?

Taking care of a normal hormone raged teenager is a mammoth task for a parent, and the added problem that alcohol brings to the table can feel overwhelming. You may not know what should you say to your kid and they may even try to avoid the conversation every time. To make sure that the conversation turns out to be meaningful, talk to your child in a relaxed environment and don’t try to discuss everything at once. If you have a friendly relationship with your child, putting your point across will be easier and meaningful.

Let Them Elaborate: Don’t start out by reading from the brochure on underage drinking to scare them about the harmful effects, rather let them tell you what they know. Their views on the issue can help you understand what they know about teenage alcohol abuse and what do they think about it.

Debunk Myths And Share Facts: Most teenagers have an image towards alcohol consumption and how it makes them socially important. It is important to make them understand that alcoholics are not the most socially accepted people in the society, but are often looked down upon. Help them understand the alcoholism is a disease, and it can easily manifest into a big problem.

Discuss Why Should Should Be Avoided: Rather than using scare tactics to make your teen more stubborn and rebellious, try reasoning with them and help them understand the effects with facts and statistics. If you have a person in the family who suffers from alcohol abuse, don’t hesitate to use them as a cautionary tale to help your teen understand how alcohol can have adverse effects.

Involve Yourself: It is true that many children are tempted to have their first experience with alcohol as they grow up seeing their parents enjoying it. You can set an example by promising them that you would stop drinking if they did, and work together to make their life alcohol free.

There may be instances when it is too late to help your teenager understand the alarming risks of alcohol addiction. In these cases, you can always look up to a medical professional who can help suggest the right rehabilitation program for your child to fight their drinking problem. Identifying teen age alcohol abuse symptoms at an early stage and with the help of professional counseling, you can prevent your child from suffering the consequences that are associated with alcohol addiction.

Become a Substance Abuse Practitioner

Do you feel a calling to work with teenagers who are addicted to substances, or adults too? If you are a health care professional or clergy who counsel, you can consider our program. The AIHCP offers a full continuing education and corresponding certification program in Substance Abuse Counseling. Completing our curriculum of distance education courses allow you to become Certified as a Substance Abuse Practitioner. To preview our program, click here.

Program in Substance Abuse Counseling: Drugs and Drinking Fool People Into Thinking Everything Is Alright

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The article “Using Drugs to Belong, Drinking to Manage Depression: Chiara de Blasio Tells Her Story of Substance Abuse.” by Dr. Tian Dayton states

“Chiara sounds like so many young people who struggle with belonging, or who hide feelings of depression or anxiety. She used pot and alcohol to manage emotional pain that she didn’t know what else to do with.”

American Institute Health Care Professionals’ insight:

In many cases, drugs and addiction mask many things.  In some cases its pain, suffering and despair that people do not wish to face.  In other cases, it is simply to fit in and belong in a certain setting.

Teens face enough pressure with their biological changes, much less finding out who they are.  Drugs, peer pressure and other external pressures can bring many teens to drugs.  Good parenting that is alert and aware of the needs of their children can help teens sort out the issues of how to belong.

In other cases where more severe depression exists, whether teen or adult, drugs can become a alternative that seems right.  This illusion has ruined many lives.  Again a certified substance abuse counselor can help.

AIHCP offers a program in substance abuse counseling.  The courses in this program help prepare qualified professionals to help others who suffer from addiction.  If you are interested in the program in substance abuse counseling, then please review the program

The Program in Substance Abuse Counseling covers primary courses that the qualified professional must take in order to become eligible for certification.  After taking these courses, the professional can become certified as a substance abuse counselor.  This certification lasts four years.

#programinsubstanceabusecounseling

See on www.huffingtonpost.com