Addiction is a multifaceted illness that if not treated can wreak havoc on the lives of the addicts and their families. Rehab programs are created as a means to address the physical and psychological effects of addiction. In order for a patient to be successful in a rehab program, medical experts must be able to provide a safe haven in which the patient feels comfortable dealing with the underlying cause of their addiction and adapting new habits.
Be that as it may, it is not enough to simply provide a facility where addicts can receive treatment. Patients ultimately deserve to be treated by a team of medical experts that are held to a certain caliber of professionalism. When rehab staff is held accountable for the professionalism displayed to its patients, the road to recovery is often easier to accomplish.
What Does Professionalism Look Like?
There are of course many aspects to professionalism, however, when dealing with something as serious as addiction, it requires medical and support staff to hone in on key concepts. Below is a brief description of professional traits that addiction counselors and medical support staff should adapt as they help their patients to recover:
·Education and Experience– with any career in the medical industry, addiction experts should obtain at minimum a bachelors degree in the medical field. Experience is equally important as it provides you with a diverse understanding of addiction and how you can best help impact the lives of your patients. In an interview with Dr. Joseph DeSanto, Medical Director at Hotel California by the Sea, he pointed out that his 11 plus years of experience in medicine coupled with his past experience with substance abuse helps him to provide better services to his patient. Here’s an excerpt from that interview:
1. Dr. DeSanto, as a Medical Doctor, board certified Addictionologist, and the Medical Director of Hotel California by the Sea; what is your professional relationship with substance abuse?
“Having practiced internal medicine, and addiction medicine for 11 years I have cared for many addicts during that time frame. I am the first person our clients see upon admission, and from there I work with them to formulate their detox and medical treatment plans with continued follow up during their stay. What makes my situation on a professional basis unique is that I am an addict in recovery with almost 4 years clean and sober. A few years ago my life and my career almost ended when I came to terms with an incredibly powerful addiction to opiate painkillers and alcohol. An addiction that without intervention, would have certainly killed me. With great shame and remorse I had to admit that I had a huge problem, that I was powerless, that I wasn’t perfect. Having the perception that doctors are bulletproof, infallible people, who could never be ‘weak’ enough to succumb to any addiction, and then having my own bout with addiction most definitely took a big hit on me ego. But in my opinion, a hit that saved my life. From this experience I believe this has enhanced the quality of care I can administer on a medical basis, but also on a personal basis as well having the ability to come from a place of genuine first hand understanding.”
· Empathy – The trouble that many addicts have is the guilt and shame that comes with their addiction. They desperately want to stop this negative behavior, but have reached a point in which it is simply beyond their control. In order to help them through recovery, being able to “put yourself in their shoes” and not turning away is extremely important. As Dr. DeSanto pointed out above, having experienced the battle of addiction himself, he was able to apply that to his profession to better understand and treat his patients.
In excerpt below, he goes on to give advice to other professionals as it pertains to addiction. A big part of this message was about being able to empathize with them while also understanding that the road to recovery can be an uphill battle as they struggle with trying to beat the mental hold of addiction as well as learning how to lead a “normal” life:
2. Are there any specific words of wisdom you’d like to share with other professional’s both in and out of the medical fields?
“Addiction and alcoholism know no pay grades or profession. Anyone and everyone is susceptible to the disease. I hope to bring some understanding, compassion, and knowledge to the field of medicine, to other professions, and to my patients who suffer on a daily basis.
Addiction to the non-addict appears to be insane, to be very selfish. And it is. But please remember, most addicts and alcoholics, when in the depth of their disease, want it to end. They want to return to ‘normal’, they want to live productive lives free from the prison that they have been in for so long. Often times, they just don’t know how to go about doing it. Most of all, please don’t give up on your loved ones who suffer. Draw healthy boundaries when needed, but keep the door for help open if they ever ask, be there for them. Like I am now.”
The professional climate within a rehab facility should encompass the “3 E’s” listed above. Education provides the foundation that medical experts and support staff need to accurately (and legally) carry out job responsibilities. Experience provides further understanding of addiction and how it impacts individuals differently, while empathy aides in creating an environment in which addicts feel safe and at ease with going through the recovery process. When all staff is held to these professional standards, it can go a long way in helping those suffering with addiction to turn over a new leaf.
1 comment
Thanks for post!