According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), an addiction specialist is either an addiction psychiatrist or addiction medicine physician who additionally holds a specialised certification. Depending on the route the specialist took, they may have received that specialised certification in one of the following four ways:
Addiction medicine board certification from the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM)
Certificate of Added Qualification in Addiction Medicine from the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
Addiction medicine subspecialty board certification from the American Board of Preventative Medicine (ABPM)
Addiction psychiatry subspecialty board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN)
By holding one of many four certifications noted above, an addiction specialist has demonstrated knowledge, experience, and skills that can be used to successfully, safely, and effectively provide the screening, intervention, treatment, and prevention that people who’re struggling with substance use disorder need. As an addiction specialist, this professional can both acknowledge and treat the range of physical and psychiatric problems that addiction brings.
Types Of Addiction Specialists
In addition to an addiction psychiatrist and an addiction doctor, there are other staff members that work under the addiction specialist umbrella. They work intently with the addiction psychiatrist or addiction doctor to deliver the necessary remedy to assist a person recover from substance use disorder.
A few of these embody the next:
Recovery coach
A recovery coach doesn’t deal with or diagnose addiction. Somewhat, a recovery coach’s job is to assist a person find the resources they need to recover successfully. Mediating between members of the family, helping with goal setting, and helping with job searches are common duties.
Counselors
Counselors are a vital part of any individual’s recovery who’s struggling with substance use disorder. There are different levels of training and expertise that a counselor can have, however. In addition, a particular counselor may not be able to diagnose an individual. This fact is especially true if they believe that the particular person has a co-occurring mental health condition.
Interventionist
An interventionist can provide an goal presence and professional experience to develop strategies for families and friends. Many people who are struggling with substance use dysfunction have a tough time recognizing that there is a problem or making changes to address their drug use.
The fitting interventionist can work with family members and the individual to bridge the gap between awareness and action.
Why An Addiction Specialist Is Important
Knowing what is an addiction specialist helps you understand the additional training, expertise, and experience these professionals should possess earlier than they will hold a certification. Using these attributes permits an addiction specialist to find out the best therapy course for every individual person.
Different professionals in the addiction subject may hold other certifications and/or produce other experiences. However, there’s merely no substitute for the weather that an addiction specialist can provide to you. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, more and more persons are turning to alcohol and drugs to mitigate their mental health conditions. In such cases, an addiction remedy specialist is essential.
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