Heroin 2.0 – It’s Back And Worse Than Ever
New data involving heroine abuse has turned up an alarming trend in the United States. While many of us have focused our concern on new designer drugs – and mind-altering substances like bath salts have garnered headlines – heroine has made its way back into our cultural fabric in a big way. From 2008 to 2011, according to SAMHSA or The Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration, heroin use (past 12 months) increased from 373,000 to 620,000. In that same time, the number of people dependent on heroin doubled.
The new surge in heroin is punctuated by the death of renowned actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. Not only has the heroin problem affected Hollywood and those in the entertainment industry, but average Americans are seeing the heroin problem crop up in their backyards throughout the country. It seems that no-one is safe from its effects.
The Importance of Creativity in Continuing Education
Most clinicians who come to The Academy for Addiction Professionals for their continuing education credits, whether they take online or in person classes, look to complete their state-mandated requirements as quickly as possible and move on. They may do so however to the detriment of their clients and even to their own personal development.
Staying Current With Addiction Related Trends
Counselors, recovering addicts and casual observers alike should be aware of the trends and latest research in addiction. Counselors in particular should understand the latest treatment methodologies as well as emerging trends in drug use and abuse. However, counselors also have the ability and even responsibility to initiate dialogue with their clients, their clients’ families and the community at large. After all, counselors are at the front line of the fight against substance abuse and have the insight that can offer those outside of the treatment industry information to help identify substance abuse, if not prevent it.
Is The Krocodil Craze Overhyped?
For months we’ve been hearing about the “flesh-eating” drug that goes by the Russian street name Krocodil. Developed as a cheaper and more powerful substitute for heroin, the drug has made headlines with cringe-worthy images of rotted flesh in chronic users.
The origins of Krocodil stem from the narcotic pain medication called desomorphine – not a new drug, but one significantly more powerful than morphine. Krocodil is a homemade version, using codeine as a base and often mixed with various harsh chemicals including gasoline. The high is intense, much like heroin, but so are the physical effects on the body. The continued injection of these corrosive chemicals can eventually cause gangrenous wounds and fantastic headlines.
The Academy is Now NAADAC Approved
We’re excited to announce that The Academy for Addiction Professionals is now a NAADAC approved education provider. We are also supporting the organization as a NAADAC Organizational Member. Becoming an approved education provider for NAADAC was a key goal for The Academy this year as it offers us the opportunity to bring our exceptional training courses to more students throughout the United States. It is also more convenient for students who wish to use their education credits in another state or who are taking classes through one of our distance learning programs. Students can rest assured that any NAADAC approved programs they take from our facility are acceptable for credentialing by the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals and many other state certification bodies.
Our Newsletter is Launching Soon
The Academy for Addiction Professionals newsletter is just over the horizon. Our inaugural issue is slated for distribution in the early part of December and we are currently compiling information of interest for those who will receive it. Topics will include the latest news from the Academy and the addition industry in general, a student and teacher spotlight as well as various contributions from familiar faces and names in the field of addictions and beyond.
Preparations for Professional Development Have Begun
Professional development is a key component of a successful career. Indeed, for many, work is the most stressful part of their lives. Problems in their work life including anxieties, lack of confidence or hostile behavior from others can ruin the week entirely. Others may miss opportunities because they are not taking advantage of their skills as they relate to their career. The result can be frustrating for both the individual and their loved ones.
Compensation for Abstinence – Does it Work?
An article published in the American Psychological Association’s Monitor on Psychology examined the effects of prizes and monetary value on abstinence from a drug of choice.
The brief discusses two studies showing that those who were compensated for abstinence from drugs or alcohol were more likely to remain abstinent. Indeed, the value of the award was also a factor in the abstinence with treatment being more effective for those receiving a higher prize value.
The War Room December 2013
You are an agent of change. You may not know it, but you are. In fact, as a part of the field of addiction recovery you have the ability, opportunity and even responsibility to effectuate change, both in yourself and others. And it doesn’t matter what your day-to-day job is – you are powerful. We work in a special field; a field that treats and helps those who are in the very deepest throes of life’s problems. The solution is not simple, and there is no cure for what we’re fighting. And it’s easy to just give up.
Or, we can wield our considerable personal power to bring change – a little at a time – to make our jobs and the work of those around us that much more effective – small victories to win the battle and ultimately, the war.
Alcohol Consumption During Early Pregnancy
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is known to increase the risk of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS – a spectrum of disorders that can last a child’s lifetime. FAS is not a precise definition of one problem. Rather, it represents a collection of mental and physical issues that affect a child from when they are still in the womb.
SAMHSA recently released a report estimating that almost 18 percent of women drink alcohol early in their pregnancy – in the first trimester. In fact, 6.6 percent of women binge drank during this time. Fortunately, the percentage of women who drank in their second trimester was dramatically lower and even lower still during the third trimester. Some interesting statistics from SAMHSA: