Preview

Recovering Addicts in the Field of Substance Abuse Counseling Essay Example

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1505 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Recovering Addicts in the Field of Substance Abuse Counseling Essay Example
RECOVERING ADDICTS IN THE FIELD OF SUBTANCE ABUSE COUSELING

Is Substance Abuse Counseling a good career for a convicted felon and recovering drug addict? A person’s past mistakes in life can sometimes prevent that person from getting certain jobs later in life. With a prior criminal record some employers may not consider that individual as a good candidate for the job. Substance abuse counselors can be needed in hospitals, institutions, rehab centers, schools, and other government ran facilities. With a felony conviction against your criminal back ground check, government ran facilities normally will not hire convicted felons due to higher risk of a liability. Personal background checks are sometimes required as well and if that individual has a past known drug addiction, employers may seem skeptical of hiring. It has however been acknowledged that a recovering drug addict will make a better candidate than someone with no past drug addiction. A recovering drug addict has experienced personally the addiction, struggles, and with drawls that are present when trying to become sober. Close to 100,000 people in the US work in recovery related jobs earning their living as drug counselors,”techs”,or social workers at the hospital treatment programs and thousands of rehabs across the country. Most people who enter the field of substance abuse counseling have some kind of personal connection with the problem. More than 50% are recovering drug addicts themselves or have family members or close friends that are addicts. A strange twist on the famous Hunter S. Thompson’s quote “When the going get weird, the weird turn pro.” With a personal connection to a past life of drug/alcohol use it usually tends to mean substance abuse counselors are incredibly passionate and dedicated. There is however a downside. Many addicts even significant amount of sober time, are at risk of a relapse. When substance abuse counselors stumbles, the consequences are often more crucial than

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Hca 250 Final Project

    • 1902 Words
    • 8 Pages

    In the substance abuse counselor role, the abuse counselor will collaborate and coordinate the use of recovery programs and structured programs for substance abuse in conjunction with a social worker to aid in the assessment and to develop a plan of recovery for our patients. In this area the psychologist will clarify the frequency and duration of substance use if any and confirm the substance abuse pattern of the patient.…

    • 1902 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The sociocultural theory states that people use substance abuse because of stress and the environmental factors due to the fact that socioeconomics and unemployment are evident. Thus, they use drugs as a means to relief themselves from stress. In addition, the behavioral/cognitive viewpoint also points to the situational substance abuse as a cause that is contributing to the condition as well. Furthermore, the behavioral/cognitive viewpoint holds that substance abuse patterns are developed through operant conditioning, when the individual uses substance abuse to release tension in his or her stressful situations. Hence, this temporary release becomes a habit as the individual begins to carry expectancy as a reward and a pattern of substance abuse through motivation becomes established. In view of this, an individual begins to use substance abuse in all his or her stressful situations, and when feeling tension, regardless of the nature of his or her external circumstances.…

    • 507 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    A job of a counselor primarily consists in assisting people in understanding and overcoming their problems which are psychological in nature. The job of an addiction counselor is to help people overcome their addiction and make sure that it does not interfere with their lives. Since addiction is a battle with feelings, this field requires not only to engage people but also to guide them. However, drug addiction…

    • 1781 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The field of substance abuse counseling is growing exponentially. With the opioid epidemic booming and synthetic drugs flooding the market, there is a dire need for counselors with education, training, and strong work ethics. But that is not why I am choosing to become a Substance Abuse Counselor, there is a little more to it. They say those that have lived it are the ones who can help others during their struggles. I am 45 years old, a mother to 3 beautiful children, one with special needs. I am also a granny to a beautiful little girl, and a wife to an amazing husband. All that has happened in the last 14 years of my life. However, the first half of my life was made up of abuse and addictions.…

    • 353 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Alcoholics Anonymous came to be in Akron Ohio in 1935 It was formed by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob out of a desperation to stay sober and not quite knowing how to do so. Bill W. had the idea that maybe one drunk trying to help another stay sober might be the key.…

    • 474 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Alcohol on American campuses has become a serious issue. In 2001, the total number of alcohol related deaths on college campuses was over 1700, while in 1998 the total was just less than 1600, and the number of students who reported that they had driven while intoxicated rose from 2.3 million to 2.8 million (Hingson 260). This statistic includes all college students, ages 18-24. That means some of the people involved in these incidents were underage. 1 out of every 4 students drinks at a binge level (Simons 24). This reflects the direction that the youth of America, as a whole, has taken. Part of the reason for this is that many college students do not know about the harmful effects of alcohol. They just don't know all the facts. Binge drinking has many harmful effects, both long term and short term, that all college students should know.…

    • 1256 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Burnout is a prevalent issue among substance abuse counselors, and anyone considering this as a career should think carefully about whether they have the passion and capacity to work long term in this challenging yet low paying field.…

    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Counselors come to this important work by various paths and with vastly different skills and experience. The diversity of backgrounds and types of preparation can be a strength, provided there is a common foundation from which counselors work. This publication addresses the following questions: What professional standards should guide substance abuse treatment counselors? What is an appropriate scope of practice for the field? Which competencies are associated with positive outcomes? What knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) should all substance abuse treatment professionals have in common? Workforce development is essential to the field of substance use disorder treatment. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has included workforce development in its Matrix of Priority Programs. A major focus of this workforce development strategy is improving the competencies of professionals in the field. This updated edition of Technical Assistance Publication (TAP) 21: Addiction Counseling Competencies: The Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Professional Practice (The Competencies) is a key component of that strategy. In 1998, in cooperation with its Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network, SAMHSA published TAP 21, a comprehensive list of 123 competencies that substance abuse treatment counselors should master to do their work effectively. TAP 21 has been used to develop and evaluate addiction counseling curricula, advise students, and assess counseling proficiencies. The overarching competencies in this updated version of TAP 21 remain largely unchanged from the original TAP 21. The KSAs have been changed from those in the 1998 edition when necessary, in light of new thinking in the field. The competencies and the KSAs…

    • 5679 Words
    • 23 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Substance abuse has been a topic of concern all over the world. But, the Western counties are often noted to have major cases of drug abuse among adolescents compared to orthodox societies. Addiction to hallucinogens has range of implications that affect physical, psychological, sexual and spiritual aspects of an individual.…

    • 566 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Opiate Addiction Essay

    • 328 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Treating persons suffering from opiate addiction is beneficial not only for the individual, but also for society as a whole. Brightside Clinic in Northbrook, IL, knows exactly how drug, opiate, or heroin addiction can impact individuals and their loved ones. These drug dependence experts are devoted to offering caring treatment to help people get back on their feet. Rather than simply punishing or incarcerating individuals suffering from addiction, they believe in comprehensive drug addiction treatment.…

    • 328 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prescription drug abuse is a problem that has plagued the United States for some time. It is clear that prescription drug abuse is the intentional use of a medication without a prescription used in the way other than prescribed; as a result the drug is used for a experience or feeling it causes. Many people don’t believe prescription drugs are addictive. Prescription drugs are medication you get from the doctors. You take prescription drugs to take away pain or to heal an illness. Depending on what your illness or how severe your pain is the doctor will prescribe a certain amount of medicine. Prescription drugs are addictive because of the strong dosage, it only takes one time for a person to take them, and the feeling it gives.…

    • 1306 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Do drugs and alcohol contribute to people becoming homeless or are there uses, a result of becoming homeless?…

    • 2981 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Aa Meetings Essay 2

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages

    I first attended AA meetings as a requirement while I was in outpatient treatment in 2002. So when I learned that I had to go for a class assignment, I thought I would be comfortable attending a meeting. I was going with the intent on just sitting in the back and listening. The meetings that I had gone to in the past were held at the treatment center where I was seeking help. For this assignment, I went to a group meeting at a prominent church in south Charlotte. Once inside I was greeted with lots of hugs and handshakes, this is when my plan changed. I was asked if this was my first time attending a meeting with every other introduction. All of the feelings of being nervous I had years ago from going to my first meeting, started coming back on me. This was a large group of middle age men and women, with little or no diversity within the group. The meeting began with the reading of the 12 steps, the 12 traditions followed by the Serenity Prayer. After the readings, one thing that surprised me was how the large group divided up into three different groups. One group for women, an open group for beginners, and a closed meeting for men, I stayed in the closed meeting.…

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    There are prevention programs throughout the United States that target Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs usage among adolescent ages 12 to 17; however, are they working and can they be improved to save our children?…

    • 2049 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Why is it when someone is diagnosed with cancer others are concerned and feel horrible, however, when someone is diagnosed with an addiction to drugs they are faced with alienation and ridicule? It seems so, because, people know that cancer is a disease that has been studied and researched for many while drug addiction has not. Individuals who abuse drugs are affected by physiological changes that occur in the brain, unfortunately these changes lead to addiction and should be treated as the disease it is and not as if it is a choice.…

    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays