Medically Assisted Treatment
There are many options for substance addiction treatment and utilizing medication as a means of eliminating substance use is one that has been called a double edge sword. There are two schools of thought with medically assisted treatment. First, let 's define medication assisted treatment (MAT): “it is the use of pharmacological medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a “whole patient” approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Research indicates that a combination of medication and behavioral therapies can successfully treat substance use disorders, and for some people struggling with addiction, MAT can help sustain recovery” (Watkins, 2016). One side of this treatment option is that it provides that extra little nudge to start recovery with less or more withdrawal symptoms. For example, disulfiram is an alcohol aversion agent, that when taken with alcohol the person becomes very ill (Watkins, 2016). There are also other medications that help with reducing symptoms of withdrawal, such as methadone.
This leads to the second school of thought on medically assisted treatment. There has been a great deal of debate about the medication used to treat Opiate addiction, methadone. Many feel that the drug methadone is simply trading one drug in for another, as the addiction to methadone is quick and almost more powerful than an opiate addiction (Nelson, 1994). The withdrawals effects are far more intense with methadone and for this reason it is a lifetime maintenance medication. Some suggest that more rehabilitative programs are needed that would address the social problems the users have to help them recover, instead of the methadone program that is viewed...
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...ives from the implementation of an empathic, hopeful continuous treatment relationship, which provides integrated treatment and coordination of care through the course of multiple treatment episodes” (Watkins, 2015). Whether, confronted with a substance use disorder, gambling or sex addiction the way in which a counselor work with the client in an open helpful manner is the key to motivating the client to change their behaviors. “A man convinced against his will, Is of the same opinion still” (Carnegie, 1981). The most piece of the helping relationship is that the client is the lead in their care, as they are the ones that will be making the decisions for their care. A counselor is essentially a trained skillful teacher that guides an individual toward their best recovery options and it is up to the individual to make the needed changes in their life and behaviors.
On the typical day, over 90 people will die at the hand of opioid abuse in America alone (National). In fact, as of 2014, nearly 2 million Americans were dependent and abusing opioids. The Opioid Crisis has affected America and its citizens in various ways, including health policy, health care, and the life in populous areas. Due to the mass dependence and mortality, the crisis has become an issue that must be resolved in all aspects.
The methadone program at Rosthern Hospital is a very active and intense program. Boast over 20 patients that are regular methadone users, the involvement of the physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and addiction counselors are key (Melle, 2016). Dr. Melle is the coordinator of the methadone program at Rosthern Hospital. His roles include, patient recruitment, patient care management, follow up care, and most importantly prescription and dosage of the methadone (Melle, 2016). Pharmacist’s role in methadone treatment is providing the methadone to the hospital, as well as in Warman pharmacy they monitor and dispense some methadone to some of the patients in the methadone program. Addiction counselors are an outside resource that the staff at Rosthern hospital can utilize. There are not social workers or counselors at Rosthern, but Dr. Melle and the nurses prefer if their patients are regularly seeing an addiction counselor while in the methadone program. Finally, the nurses role in the methadone program is early treatment and monitoring of patients during detox, the continued monitoring or patients when methadone doses change, dispensing methadone and monitoring our patients in the recovery program, and observation of patient’s success during the program. Together the interprofessional team has successfully treated dozens of patients, and the methadone program address the needs of both the patients and the addiction issues that are plaguing the surrounding communities (Melle,
The documentary states that over 27,000 deaths a year are due to overdose from heroin and other opioids. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2015 prescription pain relievers account for 20,101 overdose deaths, and 12,990 overdose deaths are related to heroin (Rudd et al., 2010-2015). The documentary’s investigation gives the history of how the heroin epidemic started, with a great focus on the hospice movement. We are presented with the idea that once someone is addicted to painkillers, the difficulty in obtaining the drug over a long period of time becomes too expensive and too difficult. This often leads people to use heroin. This idea is true as a 2014 survey found that 94% of respondents who were being treated for opioid addiction said they chose to use heroin because prescription opioids were “more expensive and harder to obtain (Cicero et al., 2014).” Four in five heroin users actually started out using prescription painkillers (Johns, 2013). This correlation between heroin and prescription painkiller use supports the idea presented in the documentary that “prescription opiates are heroin prep school.”
Tanner, G., Bordon, N., Conroy, S., & Best, D. (2011). Comparing methadone and suboxone in
Outpatient rehab centers are on the rise because it is what most people with drug and alcohol problems are attending. The one problem with outpatient facilities is that they create the likelihood of dual relationships. A dual relationship is a situation where a counselor (usually in recovery) and client have more than one type of relationship. A good example of this is the counselor -- client relationship and the relationship they might possess in A.A. The difficult part for the drug therapist is knowing which hat to wear and
During the rehab process, patients receive much more than therapy and counselling. They learn a lot about addiction and what it takes to stay on the path of recovery. In many cases, they also learn the value of having one or more support groups. For many years now, counselors have placed a great deal of value on promoting the idea of "one addict helping another addict." In fact, who would know more about the recovery process than someone who has successfully lived it?
Name: Alexis L. Wilkerson Personal Perspective on Counseling Course: ADRE 6300 Clinical, Addictions, and Rehabilitation Counseling Theories Semester: Fall 2015 Competencies addressed: Knowledge: Foundations A.5. a variety of models (e.g.., biopsychosocial, transtheoretical model of behavioral change, public health, disease) and theories (e.g.., cognitive behavioral, reality/control, harm reduction) related to clinical mental health counseling, including the methods, models, and principles of clinical supervision as well as models and theories of addiction counseling related to substance use and other addictions (e.g.., food, gambling, sex).
A substance abuse counselor is a person who helps people that are struggling with alcoholism and/or drug addiction. Substance abuse counselors provide patients with treatment and support while they are working to overcome their addiction and piece their lives back together. In addition, substance abuse counselors help patients’ families cope with their loved one’s disease and subsequent recovery. Finally, substance abuse counselors may work to spread awareness of addiction throughout the community by starting up/working for outreach programs.
Every year, 2.6 million people in the United States suffer from opioid abuse and of that 2.6 million, 276,000 are adolescents, and this problem is only escalating. An individual’s physical and emotional health suffers as well as their personal lives as they lose employment, friends, family, and hope. Opioid addiction begins with the addictive aspects of the drug. People easily become hooked on the relieving effects of the opioids and suffer withdrawal symptoms if they stop using the drug completely because their nerve cells become accustomed to the drug and have difficulty functioning without it; yet the addiction to the drug is only one aspect of the complex problem. The stigma about opioid addiction has wide-reaching negative effects as it discourages people with opioid abuse problems from reaching out.
"The definition of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is the use of medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies for the treatment of Substance Use Disorders."(SAMHSA) (Abuse, n.d.). Medication are used to suppress withdrawal symptoms and relieve cravings. Medication can also be used to prevent relapse and treat co-occurring conditions such as anxiety and depression. It's important to understand that addiction is a disease of the brain and it comes in many forms such as gambling, overeating, and exercising just to name a few.
A person going through a voluntary withdrawal will still experience the same symptoms as someone involuntarily withdrawing from alcohol. Medications, like benzodiazepines, will still be administered in a medical detox center to control these symptoms (Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment, Symptoms and Timeline with Visuals). Further medication may be prescribed at a detox center to prevent relapse. Disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate are drugs used in alcohol detox centers to assist in alcohol-related cravings (Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment, Symptoms and Timeline with Visuals). Disulfiram works to make people ill if they consume alcohol, naltrexone inhibits alcohol cravings, and acamprosate relieves withdrawal symptoms (Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment, Symptoms and Timeline with Visuals). Alcohol detox centers may focus on other aspects of the individual’s health. To aid in the healing process and relieve withdrawal symptoms, a healthy diet and sleep schedule may be introduced (Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment, Symptoms and Timeline with Visuals). The benefits of alcohol detox centers far outweigh any pleasures a drunk could find by consuming too much
An addiction counselor is a support system for someone that is having problems with drug and alcohol problems, eating disorders and other addictive problems they are having. They teach people how to modify their behaviors with the intention of a full recovery. One step at a time. One hour at a time. One day at a time. This talks about how the counselors are helping one step at a time, they are doing it one hour at a time, and they are doing it one day at a time, this is all helping the addicted person through it all. It is critical to have someone there for them at all times and addiction counselors provide this support that they need. After receiving the training one is able to enjoy this career with the great reward of helping others.
Counselors ' use resilient treatment and other remedies to ensure those who need professional help can get it, resulting in a society that has fewer mentally ill people who can harm others. Counselors are good for everyone who needs it. Their programs are designed to teach, assist, and treat various dysfunctions criminals, victims, and the general public may have. Psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health personnel such as social workers or family counselors generally conduct treatment (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment,
The counselor accomplishes the above by expressing empathy, developing discrepancies, going along with resistance and supporting self-efficacy. Moreover, the counselor guides the client toward a solution that will lead to permanent posi...
Client education is also a process by which clients are educated as to the course that alters health risks and behaviors associated with alcohol and other drug use and abuse primarily by abstinence but in some cases with medication to improve client health status. “Client education provides culturally relevant formal and informal education programs that raise awareness and support substance abuse prevention and the recovery process” TAP 21, competency 99 (www.samhsa.gov). Clients and family members are often unaware of the initial root cause (s) of the health impairment that led to or became the issue (s) (beyond presenting situation) of the impairment. Educating the client in a variety of forms is an essential part of the healing process and will aid in the overall wellness of the client. Some forms of client education are addressed in a class or group setting but can be significantly addressed in a one on one setting with a counselor however; the advantage of peer on peer feedback, or interaction is lost.