In the last decade, addiction treatment has changed in leaps and bounds. Everything—from how addiction is viewed to how it’s treated—has come under close scrutiny as years of data culminate in what has been an unprecedented change. Major steps toward tearing down the stigma surrounding substance abuse and addiction have been taken. It’s time to…
The overview of addiction in America looks grim, and we’re not talking Grimm like the popular television series. In 2010, DrugFree.org reported some 23.5 million in our country being addicted to drugs and alcohol. Three years later, DrugAbuse.gov released a new number of 24.6 million Americans over the age of 12 coping with addiction. In…
Substance abuse counselors face unique challenges, one of which is how to counsel a depressed substance user. Rooting out abusive habits, addressing addiction and dependency, and coming out on top is tough. Some struggle more than others, especially when depression becomes a factor of recovery. Depressive symptoms can hit an addicted individual before, during, and…
What is competence? Its simplest definition is to do something both successfully and efficiently. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, competence involves quality and doing something well. Competence is important for substance abuse professionals because our success intimately hinges on whether or not our clients succeed. But how do you, a substance abuse pro, become and…