Who are addiction specialists?
An addiction specialist is a medical doctor among the various addiction and substance abuse counselors. They play a crucial role in substance abuse treatment, especially for those battling drug or alcohol addiction. These experts provide invaluable support on the journey to recovery. Many healthcare providers lack the proper knowledge and expertise to diagnose addiction accurately. Therefore, it is essential to consult the right medical professional for your specific needs that require specialized care.
After medical school, doctors and psychiatrists can get board-certified in addiction by these boards:
- ABPM, American Board of Preventive Medicine
- ABPN, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
- ABAM, American Board of Addiction Medicine
- AOA, American Osteopathic Association
Earning a certification means the doctor demonstrates exceptional expertise in their specialty through education, training, and experience. As a result, they're qualified to diagnose and treat addiction, along with psychiatric and physical issues arising from prolonged drug and alcohol abuse. These specialists can make a positive difference in the lives of those striving to overcome substance use problems.
What does an addiction specialist do?
Besides medical and psychiatric expertise, an addiction specialist possesses various essential skills. A qualified addiction specialist will have the following:
- Valid M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) license
- The ability to identify and diagnose addiction as a primary brain illness
- The ability to prescribe suitable treatments for patients and families and train others in screening, intervention, and referral to treatment
- Empathy and the ability to motivate patients and their families to seek the appropriate treatments
- Proficiency in addressing medical and psychiatric conditions commonly associated with addiction, including withdrawal symptoms
- Familiarity with other related disciplines and current drug testing technologies
- Knowledge of the state's prescription monitoring program and its proper utilization
When starting treatment, you'll work with an addiction specialist who comprehends the challenges you may encounter on the path to recovery.
Types of addiction specialists
Depending on your condition, you may need assistance from different addiction specialists. Some of these include:
- Interventionists: These experts assist families in their effort to guide their loved ones toward addiction recovery. Given the resistant nature of addiction, people may be hesitant to acknowledge the problem or embrace change. Interventionists offer effective strategies to motivate individuals to seek help. Additionally, they work with and support family members who may be resistant to being a part of this process.
- Addiction, alcohol, drug, or substance abuse counselors: These professionals assist individuals in changing their behaviors to end drug use. A substance abuse counselor does not have the same level of academic expertise as a psychologist. As a result, it is advisable to choose a psychiatrist or psychologist to lead your recovery treatment effort and consult substance abuse counselors as a separate component of your treatment.
- Addiction psychologists: Addiction psychologists mainly concentrate on talk therapy for treatment and cannot prescribe medicine. They engage clients in therapy and guide them through the best available treatment options, including group, cognitive behavioral, motivational enhancement, and family therapy.
- Addiction psychiatrists: Addiction psychiatrists deal with drug treatment and may or may not opt for in-person talk therapy sessions. They are skilled in identifying relapse signs and can prescribe medications for psychological disorders (like bipolar and depression) and withdrawals. They are also experts in managing drug cravings to prevent relapse.
- Recovery coaches: Recovery coaches do not diagnose or treat addiction. Instead, they help people during the recovery process in different ways. For instance, they aid in finding essential resources like job search support. They also conduct random drug screenings, assist with achieving individual goals, and mediate family issues.
Some symptoms of substance use disorders
The most common types of substances that people abuse include alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioids. An individual can be addicted to more substances at the same time. Here are a few signs that suggest someone is dealing with substance use disorder:
- They have been taking the substance in larger doses and for a longer duration than what was prescribed.
- They feel the urge to use the substance at least once or even several times a day.
- They have developed tolerance to the substance, so they have started taking larger amounts of it to achieve the same effects as before.
- They continue taking the substance, ignoring the fact that it is causing or worsening physical and psychological issues, such as low energy, lack of motivation, and weight changes.
- They have stopped fulfilling the necessary responsibilities at home, engaging in social activities, and enjoying hobbies due to substance use. Their performance at school or work has also significantly dropped.
- They are not bothered that substance use is affecting their relationships with loved ones and leading to other life problems.
- They resort to stealing or other problematic behaviors to obtain the required substance.
- They engage in risky behavior under the influence of the substance, such as driving, having unprotected sex, or attempting suicide.
- They keep using the substance even when they land in dangerous situations.
- They have tried to stop using the substance but failed at the process multiple times.
- They experience withdrawal symptoms every time they stop taking the substance. As a result, they restart using the substance to cope with the effects.
An addiction specialist may diagnose an individual with substance use disorder if they exhibit two or more of the above signs for one year or longer.
Why should you visit an addiction specialist near you?
These specialized doctors and psychiatrists possess unique knowledge that aids individuals in their recovery. Typically, addiction specialists lead a team of counselors and medical professionals, each contributing to the tailored treatment plan crafted by the specialist for your needs.
The correct treatment matters. At times, what looks like addiction might be physical dependence. An addiction specialist identifies the problem's unique traits in these cases and forms a solid plan. Usually, those with physical dependence gradually withdraw from the substance, unlike the instant detox required for active addiction.
What can you expect during your first visit with an addiction specialist?
If you have scheduled an appointment with an addiction specialist, you have taken a positive step toward achieving better health and well-being. However, before you visit your doctor, you may have many questions. What will the addiction specialist ask me? Will they keep my information confidential? What type of treatment can I expect? Find answers to all your questions in the guide below:
- Your doctor will offer a safe and comfortable space: Rest assured that your doctor will maintain a caring, friendly, and nonjudgmental environment where you can freely share your concerns. They will also discuss privacy and confidentiality protocols.
- Your doctor will talk about your issues: You may have to answer questions from your doctor about your addiction issues. They may ask: What substances are you using? Since when have you been using them? How often do you use them? What triggered you to use them? How are they affecting your personal, social, and professional life? So, make sure to provide honest answers for your doctor to be able to arrive at an accurate diagnosis and prepare an appropriate treatment plan.
- Your doctor will discuss your treatment options: After patiently understanding your situation, they will prepare an individualized treatment plan for you. They may combine interventions such as evidence-based therapies and medications. They may also recommend joining support groups to help with your recovery.
How do you find the best addiction specialists near you?
With its user-friendly application, Zocdoc allows you to refine your search for addiction specialists by leveraging various criteria. Tailor your search based on your desired healthcare practitioner, specific condition, preferred appointment time and date, location, zip code, and medical insurance plan.
The Zocdoc database houses thousands of addiction specialists, presenting you with professionals catering to your unique needs. Embrace the convenience of booking both in-person and online appointments seamlessly through Zocdoc.
For every addiction specialist listed on Zocdoc, there exists a comprehensive profile brimming with essential information about their educational background, experience, and work practices. A simple click on their name provides detailed insights into their years of training, expertise, certifications, licenses, affiliations, and noteworthy achievements in their field. Explore the locations and schedules of their services, languages they speak, gender, and accepted medical insurance policies.
To ascertain which addiction specialists are in your network, select your current insurance from the dropdown menu on the website. The application will instantly reveal professionals who accept your insurance for seamless payment processing.
If you cannot find your specific health plan in the list, consider using the Zocdoc insurance detector. To use this feature, you need to have a Zocdoc account. So, quickly register if you haven't done so already—it is 100% free! Next, go to your account settings, scroll down to the insurance tab, and upload a clear photo of your card. Zocdoc will run a quick scan and give accurate results on your plan, which you can then use to find in-network providers. Contact our customer service team if you are having trouble uploading the image. Also, for more insurance-related questions, visit our patient help center page.
Zocdoc also provides verified reviews and ratings on provider profiles, aiding you in making well-informed decisions when choosing the best addiction specialist near you.
Experience the ease of simple, secure, and entirely free bookings with Zocdoc today! Find your ideal addiction specialist and take the first step towards a healthier life.
All Zocdoc bookings are simple, secure, and free!
Addiction specialists and substance abuse statistics
As per the Association of American Medical Colleges, an estimated 21.2 million people suffer from a substance use disorder. In 2018, only about 11% of these patients received the necessary care. In addition, one in every five people struggling with addiction does not know where to turn for support. Currently, the number of certified addiction medicine physicians in the country is around 1,883, with an additional 1,288 practitioners qualified to practice addiction psychiatry.
As per the 2021 data reported by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 61.2 million individuals (or 21.9% of the population) used illicit substances in the previous year. The report stated that marijuana was the most commonly used illicit substance, with around 52.5 million people using it.
In the year prior, nearly 2 in 5 young individuals aged 18 to 25 used illicit substances; 1 in 3 young adults aged 18 to 25 used marijuana. The data also indicated that approximately 9.2 million individuals aged 12 and over misused opioids in the preceding year.
Sources
San Antonio Recovery Center
Two Dreams
Association of American Medical Colleges
WebMD
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
Healio
