Primary care doctors’ perception of treatment demand and need for training in drug addiction issues.

Aim: To learn the opinion of primary care physicians (PCPs) on healthcare provision for the drug addict population and to determine their knowledge and needs as regards to continuing training and their attitudes towards drug addiction.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 301 PCPs in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain using a questionnaire designed to elicit physician’s opinions about drug addiction.

Results: The response rate was 85.0% (256 cases). 84.2% of the doctors considered that 10% of patient visits to primary care centres were related to drug addiction.

The doctors frequently experienced difficulty in:

• the diagnosis and treatment of organic diseases associated with addiction (18.4%),
• the assessment of the situation and level of dependence (36.7%),
• support to treatment of some aspects of drug addiction (51.3%) and,
• above all, the treatment of these addictions (62.9%).

Of all respondents, 53.8% reported they had received some form of postgraduate training in drug addiction issues.

Only 28.5% considered they had received sufficient information on specialised drug addiction services.

Conclusions: As regards to PCPs’ attitudes to drug addiction, we observed a positive attitude regarding the needs of those who abuse drugs, and the development of intervention programmes.

PCPs believe that addicts deserve treatment, that there should be more treatment programmes and that primary healthcare centres should establish links with specialised services.

José Latorre;  Jesús López-Torres;  Trinidad Sanchez-Nuñez;  Juan Pedro Serrano;  Juan Montañés; Francisco Escobar. Primary care doctors’ perception of treatment demand and need for training in drug addiction issues. Primary Care & Community Psychiatry, Volume 12, Issue 1 January 2007 , pages 33 – 41.

The Co-Occurring Center for Excellence. Addressing mental disorders and alcoholism, addiction co-occurring.

The Co-Occurring Center for Excellence (COCE) was created by SAMHSA in 2003 to provide information and a range of services to mental health and substance abuse administrators and policymakers at state and local levels, their counterparts in tribal and Native populations, clinical providers, other providers, and all other agencies and systems through which clients may enter the treatment system.

COCE provides state-of-the-art and sustainable technical assistance, training, information and resources, and links to other resources that serve persons with co-occurring disorders.

http://www.coce.samhsa.gov/

See also;

• Double Trouble in Recovery
• Dual Diagnosis Anonymous
• Double Trouble in Recovery for Alcoholics
• 12-Step Treatment More Effective than Alternative

The Dual Diagnosis Recovery Sourcebook : A Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Approach to Addiction with an Emotional Disorder by Dennis Ortman Read more about this title…

• Alcohol Related Brain Injury
• Adolescent Children of Alcoholics
• Alcoholic jealousy
• Alcoholics Anonymous with Narcotics Anonymous
• ALCOHOLISM MYTHS
• Anti-craving Naltrexone Injection Reduces Drinking
• Brief-TSF Description
• Brief-TSF is Holistic Treatment
• Client Impressions About Alcoholics Anonymous
• Comparison of Addiction Treatment
• Counselor Characteristics
• Dentists and Alcohol and Drug Use
• Free Inhalant Abuse Education
• Inappropriate Treatment for Alcohol Withdrawal is Common
• Predictors of Relapse in Alcoholism
• Prescription Drug Overdose Becomes Big Killer
• Sleep, PTSD and Alcoholism
• Spiritual Assessment
• Sweet Tooth and Alcoholism
• Teen Drinking Leads to Risk of Alcoholism
• The Dry Drunk
• Thyroid Function in Depression and Alcohol Abuse
• Training; Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse
• TSF Description
• Twelve Steps to Recovery from Burnout
• Subscribe to BriefTSF by e-Mail

Acamprosate efficacy in alcohol-dependent patients: summary of results from three pivotal trials.

In 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acamprosate for use in conjunction with psychosocial support in the maintenance of abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients who are abstinent at treatment initiation.

That approval was based primarily on a re-analysis of three European double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in which complete abstinence was the primary outcome measure.

The current report presents data from the re-analysis of the pivotal trials, which were 13-, 48-, and 52-week studies. A total of 998 DSM-III-R alcohol-dependent patients were included in the studies, with the majority abstinent at randomization. Using a more stringent definition of abstinence, re-analysis of the rate of complete abstinence, percent days abstinent, and the time to first drink confirmed the original findings for the efficacy of acamprosate in the treatment of alcohol dependence.

Rate of complete abstinence was significantly higher with acamprosate than placebo (p < .05); both percent days abstinent and time to first drink were also significantly greater among acamprosate-treated than placebo-treated patients (p < .01).

These findings support the use of acamprosate in the treatment of alcohol dependence and illustrate some of the issues that can arise in the FDA process for approval of medications to treat the disorder.

Am J Addict. 2008 Jan-Feb;17(1):70-6. Acamprosate efficacy in alcohol-dependent patients: summary of results from three pivotal trials. Kranzler HR, Gage A.

See also;

• 12-Step Treatment More Effective than Alternative
• Brief-TSF is designed to as adjunctive therapy for anti-craving medication.
• Subscribe to BriefTSF by e-Mail

Handbook of Alcoholism Treatment Approaches (3rd Edition) by Reid K. Hester, William R. Miller Read more about this title…

Course Overview: This course will define and discuss inhalant abuse, with particular concentration on how to recognize the manifestations of abuse.

This course is intended for nurses in all areas of healthcare, and health professionals in acute care settings.

Upon completion of this course, the learner should be able:

• Define inhalants.
• Identify classes and examples of inhalants.
• Recognize reasons why youths are using inhalants.
• Describe the characteristics of a youth likely to start using.
• Recognize Inhalant research regarding gender and ethnicity.
• Describe methods of Inhalation and the most frequent site of usage.
• Describe the effects of inhalants on the body.
• Define inhalant intoxication, withdrawal, tolerance and addiction.
• Describe the assessment process.
• Identify emergency treatment.
• Recognize fatal and long-term consequences of Inhaling.
• Correlate the relationship of Inhalant abuse and delinquent behavior.
• Describe keys to prevent Inhalant abuse.

What are Inhalants?

Inhalants are breathable chemical vapors that produce psychoactive (mind-altering) effects. While we are commonly exposed to volatile solvents and other inhalants in the home and workplace, most of us are unaware that these substances can be inhaled as drugs. This is probably because most inhalants were not designed to be used that way and because normal use results in low inhaled concentration.

Inhalants are often called “Gateway Drugs” because they lead to use of other drugs, such as marijuana and methamphetamines. Sometimes the chemical itself becomes the drug of choice and is abused into adulthood. Healthcare professionals and the public generally lack awareness of the toxic effects of inhalants and do not consider that household products could be addicting.

Course is available at; http://www.rnceus.com/course_frame.asp?exam_id=47&directory=inhal

Training; Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse

Description:

This course is designed for Substance Abuse Counselors and Professionals in the Social Service field with an overview of domestic violence and substance abuse.

This education course will cover various forms of domestic violence, identification of risk factors and causes, intervention and treatment approaches.

http://www.nattc.org/addictionEd/courseDetail.asp?org=262&CourseID=1401

See also;

• Twelve Step Facilitation

From: University of Utah, Genetics Science Learning Center.

This website – which is highly interesting, informative, and entertaining — delivers interactive and print-based resources, free of charge, on the neurobiological actions of substances of abuse: heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, and alcohol. The presentations primarily depict how drugs interact with dopamine neurotransmitters within the brain’s reward pathway. The influences of genetics on addiction are also discussed. Although the simplified mechanisms of drug action and other influences depict only part of the story, even experienced practitioners will find the material of interest as a refresher.

Particularly entertaining yet informative, and well worth a look, is the “Mouse Party,” which takes an interactive look inside the brains of animated mice on drugs, exploring molecular mechanisms of addiction. It provides a small glimpse into the chemical interactions at the synaptic level that cause drug users to feel “high” and want to repeat drug-abusing behaviors.

• Go to the Mouse Party
• Section on How Drugs Alter Brain Reward Pathways
• Main Page on Genetics of Addiction
• Some animations require the Adobe Flash Player (available free at Adobe)

The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment by Carlton K. Erickson Read more about this title…

1. 12-Step Recovery Theory and Application
2. AA and the disease concept of alcoholism
3. AA attendance was best predictor of abstinence
4. AA Membership
5. AA Recommendations
6. Abstinent alcoholics can have reduced brain activation
7. Al-Anon offers new life
8. Alcohol Abuse in Older People
9. Alcohol consumption in patients pancreatitis
10. Alcohol Metabolization
11. Alcoholic jealousy
12. Alcoholics & Addicts Can’t ‘Just Say No’
13. Alcoholics Anonymous and church involvement
14. Alcoholics can benefit from Al-Anon
15. Alcoholics don’t see dangerous situation
16. Alcoholism and Personality Disorders
17. Alcoholism is also Genetic
18. ALCOHOLISM MYTHS
19. Anti-craving Naltrexone Injection Reduces Drinking
20. Beyond Codependency
21. Brief-TSF Description
22. Brief-TSF holistic treatment
23. COUNSELOR CHARACTERISTICS
24. Craving Reduction
25. Effects of gambling addiction
26. Elderly substance abuse
27. Free Inhalant Abuse Education
28. Management of substance-abuse disorders
29. Mindfulness Can Help Recovery
30. Neurotransmitter and neuromodulatory mechanisms involved in alcohol abuse and alcoholism
31. Physician Screening for Alcohol Cost Effective but Underutilized
32. Relapse Prevention in Primary Care
33. Return to Drinking After Liver Transplantation for Alcoholic Liver Disease
34. Screening Can Decrease Teen Risk Behaviors
35. Spiritual Awakening for Recovery
36. Spirituality and Helping in Alcoholics Anonymous
37. Strategies for Dealing With Denial
38. Symptoms of alcoholism
39. The Aging Alcoholic
40. THE DRY DRUNK
41. Therapeutic Alliance
42. Treatment and twelve-step strategies
43. TSF Description
44. Twelve Step recovery is spiritual
45. TWELVE STEPS TO RECOVERY FROM BURNOUT
46. UK Alcohol and Drug Professional Training
47. What about partners of alcoholics?
48. What About This Spiritual Awakening Thing
49. What is Brief-TSF?

The Federation of Drug & Alcohol Professionals (FDAP) is the professional body for the substance use field and works to help improve standards of practice across the sector. It is part of NAADAC, a registered charity.

FDAP offers a range of training courses - online, distance learning and face-to-face - aimed at developing the competence of workers and managers in line with the DANOS-based competence framework and relevant workforce development targets.

Introductory Certificate for Counsellors

We have launched a new introductory certificate for drug and alcohol counsellors, in partnership with Alcohol Concern. The new award is aimed at counsellors in training and volunteer counsellors. See training for more details.

FDAP Qualifications

FDAP provide a range of qualifications & certifications designed to recognise and demonstrate the competences of managers and practitioners in the drugs and alcohol field - in line with the DANOS-based competence framework and relevant workforce development targets.

Practitioners (general)

FDAP Drug & Alcohol Professional Certification [DANOS-based]

A competence-based certification for practitioners, covering 10 units from DANOS and related national occupational standards, and providing externally-validated evidence of workplace competence. Cost: £75 (reductions available for FDAP affiliate agencies, no charge for FDAP NCAC Accredited Counsellors). [Open to FDAP members/associates only.] more…

OU/FDAP Professional Awards for Drug & Alcohol Practitioners

Open University qualifications providing evidence of competence against units from DANOS - including a 10 unit Professional Award for Drug & Alcohol Practitioners and smaller Professional Development Awards. Cost: from £245 (10% off for FDAP members/affiliates). [Open to all.] more…

Counsellors

FDAP National Counsellor Accreditation Certificate (NCAC)

Specialist certification for drug & alcohol counsellors, conferring eligibility to the United Kingdom Register of Counsellors and complementing FDAP’s Drug & Alcohol Professional Certification. Cost: £150 (reductions available to FDAP affiliates). [Open to FDAP members/associates only.] more…

FDAP/AC Introductory Certificate for Drug & Alcohol Counsellors

A certification from FDAP and Alcohol Concern, aimed at counsellors in training and volunteer counsellors working in alcohol and drugs services. Cost: £75 (£50 for FDAP members/affiliates and AC members). [Open to all.] more…

Managers

OU/FDAP Awards for Managers of Drug & Alcohol Practitioners

Open University qualifications based on an assessment of competence against national occupational standards units relevant to line managers. Cost: £440 (10% off for FDAP members/affiliates). [Open to all.] more…

Brief-TSF professional training is adjunctive to all these courses.

See also;

• Twelve Step Facilitation
• NACoA’s Clergy Training and Certification