Competent Practice In Alcohol And Drug Counseling

Portfolio Part IV. Demonstration of Competence

Principle #1: Competent practice in alcohol and drug counseling has evidence of effectiveness, is fundamentally research based and encourages critical thinking on the part of the counselor. This reflects a depth of scholarship in your education.

Question for reflection 1: Describe an example of an evidenced (research) based treatment approach.

Housing First Program is an example of an evidenced based treatment approach. This Program is designed to support recovery and end homelessness for individuals who are in need of a place to live and have severe mental health and co-occurring substance use disorder. This model is based on the belief that housing is a basic right and a foundation that

It follows that competent practice recognizes there is not a typical addicted person, and that each age, gender, culture, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, family, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, mental health, other unique personal characteristics and the drugs she or he uses. This reflects a breadth of practice learned from your education.

Question for reflection 1: Per this principle, what is a substance use disorder? Describe it. How is it caused?

Substance use disorder is defined as a pattern of behavior where people use mood altering chemicals to a harmful extent. According to the DSM-V, substance use disorders span a wide variety of problems arising from substance use, and cover 11 different criteria:
1. Taking the substance in larger amounts or for longer than the you meant to
2. Wanting to cut down or stop using the substance but not managing

Continuing to use, even when the you know you have a physical or psychological problem that could have been caused or made worse by the substance
10. Needing more of the substance to get the effect you want (tolerance)
11. Development of withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance.
The DSM 5 allows clinicians to specify how severe the substance use disorder is, depending on how many symptoms are identified. Two or three symptoms indicate a mild substance use disorder, four or five symptoms indicate a moderate substance use disorder, and six or more symptoms indicate a severe substance use disorder. (DSM-V)
Principle #2: Competent practice in alcohol and drug counseling recognizes that addiction is a multivariate phenomenon and that, thus, it is not explained by one main model or theory. It follows that competent practice recognizes there is not a typical addicted person, and that each age, gender, culture, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, family, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, mental health, other unique personal characteristics and the drugs she or he uses. This reflects a breadth of practice learned from your