What you will learn?
This course explores the comprehensive assessment and treatment of addiction, focusing on six key dimensions:
1. Past substance use
2. Physical and mental health
3. Readiness to change
4. Relapse potential
5. Living environment
6. Severity risk ratings
The ASAM Criteria is recommended for guiding patients through assessment and recovery, with severity ratings ranging from 0 to 4 indicating the level of danger. Strategies for retaining patients at their current care level are outlined, emphasizing goal progress and identification of treatable issues. Substance use disorder assessment criteria from the DSM-5 are detailed, alongside physical addiction assessment indicators like tolerance and withdrawal.
The Severity of Addictions Scale (SAS) is introduced to evaluate psychological addiction severity, with an emphasis on client engagement, initial screening, and the value of role-playing counselor-client scenarios for improved assessment skills.
The course underscores the importance of client assessment in addiction services, advocating for a thorough evaluation process that encompasses biological, psychological, and social dimensions. Initial assessments involve psychosocial evaluations, substance use history, and medical considerations, with severity measurements using established scales. Treatment adherence, withdrawal symptoms, care levels, and ASAM Criteria for addiction are covered, highlighting the necessity of active client involvement and consistent counselor efforts for successful outcomes.
In drug addiction counseling, the assessment process is deemed critical, given clients' emotional variability at intake. Establishing trust and confidentiality are paramount, with counselors advised to approach assessments gradually, moving from general to sensitive topics. Understanding resistance, empathy, and client backgrounds aids in tailoring treatment plans and offering necessary referrals for specialized aid. A holistic approach considering biological, sociological, and psychological influences is seen as pivotal for treatment success.
During initial client assessments for substance abuse, essential components to address include psychosocial factors, drug history, medical concerns, treatment selection, and examination. Exploring living conditions, relationships, financial circumstances, legal background, previous treatment endeavors, and motivations for seeking help offers insights into the client's situation. Detailed queries on drug usage and associated issues aid in evaluating addiction levels. Observing physical and mental states, behavioral clues, and addiction-related behaviors can enhance assessment accuracy, guiding tailored treatment plans for client recovery.
In your journal, answer this question:
What are the kinds of information to look for when making an assessment of the client's drug use history?
This sample is just for your review. You may use this with your clients or your company may have their own version of this screening form and recovery plan.
You must pass this quiz with a 70% or higher.
This lesson discusses the importance of utilizing a readiness ruler, a scale ranging from 1 to 10, to assess a client's willingness to change. Key aspects of the discussion include:
* Encouraging clients to discuss their readiness for chagne and asses their confidence in undertaking tasks.
* Guding clients in setting goals and reviewing progress based ont he readiness ruler scale.
* suggesting involvment of trusted individuals in the change process if needed.
Goal setting is highlighted as a valuable technique used by various individuals such as business people, students, and athletes. Important points surrounding goal setting include:
* Providing motivation and a vision for achieving goals.
* Enhancing success chances by focusing on what needs to be accomplished.
* Emphasizing the value of SMART short-term goals - specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely.
Additional recommendations for effective goal setting include:
* setting achievable and realistic goals that align with the client's stage of change.
* Ensuring counselor-client agreement on set goals.
* Regularly reviewing and revising goals while celebrating small achievements to boost motivation.
* Helping clients define clear goals, break them into manageable steps, and address obstacles that may arise.
Overall, goal setting serves as a valuable tool to assist clients in achieving their desired outcomes, with consistent effort and progress being key to success.
In your journal, answer these questions:
Why set short-term counseling goals when counseling?
What are the main characterisitcs of short-term goals?
You must pass the exam with a 70%.
In your journal, apply the goal-setting technique to this problem:
"When I meet friends, I end up using marijuana."
The importance of problem-solving skills in cousneling drug users is emphasized in the lesson, which outlines steps such as problem recognition, brainstorming solutions, decision-making, and implementation. The counselor plays a crucial role in guiding clients through these steps:
1. Problem recognition
2. Brainstorming solutions
3. Decision-making
4. Implementation
Clients are encouraged to be specific in identifying and solving their problems, with a focus on teaching them how to effectively address and overcome challenges. Additionally, the text inlcudes a role-playing exercise to demonstrate problem-solving techniques.
Problem-solving strategies for counselors working with clients dealing with substance use issues are discussed:
* Recognizing and addressing problems effectively.
* Guiding clients through identifying, brainstorming, evaluating, and implementing solutions.
* Helping clients choose solutions that best fit their situations.
Through practicing and refining problem-solving skills, clients can better manage stress and cope with life's difficulties. The lesson also highlights common obstables encountered during problem solving and provides recommendations for counselors to guide their clients towards successful outcomes.
In your journal, answer this question:
How do YOU solve your everyday problems? What steps do YOU go through?
In your journal, complete this exercise:
Using the 4 problem solving steps, what would be the best solution for this problem:
"I never seem to have time to have fun any more. I am too busy with my work."
Step 1: Identify the problem.
Step 2: Brainstorm potential solutions.
Step 3: Identify the pros and cons of each potential solution.
Step 4: Decide which solution is best.
This lesson emphasizes the importance of preventing overdose and highlights the following tips:
* Having an overdose plan
* Being cautious when switching dealers
* Preparing your own doses
* Avoiding mixing drugs
* Not injecting drugs alone
It discusses the principles of risk reduction in dealing with injection drug use problems, focusing on:
* Pragmatic and humane approaches
* Effectiveness in reducing harm and controlling HIV infection
The lesson stresses the importance of risk reduction strategies in dealing with drug addiction and mentions:
* The chronic nature of addiction
* Providing information to minimize associated dangers
* The need for non-judgmental and individualized approaches
It outlines various risk reduction methods such as:
* Addressing health needs
* HIV prevention
* Harm reduction programs
Additionally, the lesson covers safe injection practices, emphasizing sterile equipment, proper techniques, overdose prevention, and response to emergencies. It also discusses vein care, quality and tolerance of drugs, and seeking help in overdose situations. The focus is on empowering individuals to make informed choices, understand risks, and minimize harm associated with drug use. Finally, it promotes a holistic and pragmatic approach towards addressing drug addiction and its risks.
About the course
Key skills for drug addiction counselors include building trust, utilizing effective communication techniques, demonstrating empathy, and employing evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Counselors also need to be skilled in motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, and crisis intervention.
Essential Skills for Drug Addiction Counselors:
* Building trust and rapport
* Effective communication
* Client Assessment
* Goal Setting
* Problem Solving
* Reducing Risk
About the teacher
Desiree Cochran-Norfolk
Assessor/Counselor
Desiree Cochran is a Certified Addiction Counselor II, Certified Clinical Supervisor, and Certified Master Addiction Counselor through the Georgia Addiction Counselor's Association and is a certified anger management facilitator through the Department of Community Supervision. She is also certified as a MCAP through the Florida Certification Board. She completed her Masters in Addiction Counseling at Liberty University. She is certified to teach DUI school, parenting, ASAM treatment for all levels, and all Prime Solutions Classes including the marijuana course. Desiree is also training to become a certified facilitator for the Georgia Commission on Family Violence to facilitate Domestic Violence Intervention Programs.
