What Is an Addiction Specialist?

Experience clinician-run addiction treatment at Red Oak Recovery® in the pristine Blue Ridge Mountains

What Is an Addiction Specialist?

Your addiction specialist can provide you with the tools and resources to help you in your recovery journey. They should be able to provide evidence-based treatments and referrals for any additional support you may need. Your addiction specialist should be someone who understands the complexities of addiction and is familiar with the latest research on the subject. They should also be someone who is willing to listen and provide you with empathy and compassion as you navigate your recovery journey.

The team at Red Oak Recovery® is ready to give you the care and support you need to break the cycle of addiction. If you are looking for an addiction specialist for men, contact us today at 866.457.7590 and discover how we can help.

What Is An Addiction Specialist?

An addiction specialist is someone who has the training to help them understand the complicated subject of addiction. Our addiction treatment staff members include physicians, nurses, counselors, and psychiatrists who have furthered their education to add addiction-specific knowledge to what they have already learned. People compare them to someone who has a degree or license in general medicine but took further classes in surgery so that they can do actual operations and not merely diagnose a disorder. Several organizations govern this specialty, and an individual has to take a particular set of classes and pass specific tests to qualify to take the licensing exam. Once all the criteria for training have been met and the certification exam passed, a person can then earn the right to add ‘addiction specialist’ to their resume.

What Does an Addiction Specialist Do?

What is an addiction specialist trained to do in a rehab setting? The role of the addiction specialist is mainly counseling, but they can and do perform many functions. The addiction specialist is an essential part of your treatment team and will work closely with all other team members to help you get the best possible treatment for your individual needs. They will work with you in individual counseling, help design a treatment plan for your success during and after rehab, and work with family members who have been affected by your addiction.

A physician with this specialty will be able to supervise a medical detox program. They can also prescribe medications to help ease your withdrawal symptoms. A psychiatrist with an addiction specialty will be able to evaluate your mental health needs. If this is the case, you may need dual diagnosis treatment. They can also prescribe appropriate treatment that will enhance your addiction treatment rather than clash with it.

Why Working With an Addiction Specialist is Important

Addiction is a disease of the brain. It is a complicated subject. A person who does not understand how addiction affects a person won’t always be able to help you. You don’t make your decision to get clean lightly. Therefore, you deserve to have someone on your treatment team who can understand your needs. With this certification, you know someone qualified to evaluate and treat you is working with you. They won’t make decisions they hope will be useful. They will be able to take proven knowledge and apply it in a way that is known to work.

The Benefits of Getting Professional Addiction Treatment

Getting professional addiction treatment is the best and safest option, and often a necessary step, for those struggling with substance abuse. It can provide the support and guidance needed to make positive changes in one’s life. Some benefits of getting professional help include:

  • Identifying the root cause of addiction and underlying mental health issues
  • Learning effective, healthier ways of coping with stressors or triggers
  • Learning how to manage difficult or extreme emotions without substances
  • Building communication skills and repairing important relationships or boundaries
  • Individual, family, and group therapy are available
  • Medication-assisted treatment for getting through withdrawal and detox
  • Getting access to educational and support resources
  • Continued care after treatment with alumni and relapse prevention programs

Overall, professional addiction treatment is essential for those who are looking to live a healthier and substance-free life.  By getting the right kind of treatment, individuals can take control of their lives and set themselves up for long-term success when it comes to recovery and achieving long-term sobriety goals.

Find an Effective Addiction Specialist at Red Oak Recovery® and Start Your Healing Journey Today

At Red Oak Recovery®, your treatment is important to us. That is why you will be in the hands of an addiction specialist. If you are still wondering what an addiction specialist is, our intake staff will help you. You wouldn’t trust your heart condition to a foot doctor. Therefore, don’t trust your addiction treatment to someone who isn’t trained in the specifics of addiction. Our addiction specialists address a variety of addictions, including:

  • Heroin addiction
  • Cocaine addiction
  • Opioid addiction
  • Prescription drug addiction
  • Benzo addiction

Contact Red Oak Recovery® at 866.457.7590 or via our online form to discuss how we can help you or your loved one gain relief from addiction and live a healthier, more productive life.