If you have an addiction to drugs or alcohol, you need treatment to get back your life. However, not all professionals have the same qualifications for helping with the recovery process. Therefore, to find out the answer to your question, “What is an addiction specialist?” you need to understand the field of recovery and what requirements practitioners in this sector need to have.
What Is an Addiction Specialist? What Requirements Does One Have?
Addiction specialists are doctors who focus on diagnosing, evaluating, treating, and preventing addiction in people. According to the American Board of Preventative Medicine (ABPM), addiction specialists must have a medical degree, medical license, and certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). The ABPM administers certification for addiction specialists for the ABMS.
In some cases, addiction specialists may be psychiatrists. Those in this category hold certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) instead of from a medical specialist organization.
For a doctor to be an addiction specialist, they must have undergone years of practical training and academic education.
What Does an Addiction Specialist Do?
As a licensed physician or psychiatrist, addiction specialists focus on how the dependency affects the body and how to help you recover as quickly as possible. Addiction specialists help all those affected by a person’s addiction. For example, many addiction specialists will assist the family of someone undergoing recovery treatment as they help the person with a drug or alcohol addiction.
Why Does an Addiction Specialist Need a Medical Degree?
If you want to know, “What is an addiction specialist?” be aware that you are finding out about a medical specialty. When it comes to addictions, experts today recognize that these problems are not moral failings but cause physical changes in your brain and body. To help with recovery, you need a medical doctor trained in how substance abuse affects your mind and body.
Abuse of drugs and alcohol causes numerous changes in the body, and when you suddenly stop some of these substances, you will need medical care to avoid severe side effects of withdrawal. Protecting your body from the dangers of abruptly quitting is a major reason that addiction specialists need medical licenses.
When you visit a recovery center, you may need to undergo medically supervised detox. However, even after detox, during long-term residential treatment programs, you will still need medical supervision for your physical and mental health. Medical support in addition to mental health counseling can help you to achieve lasting results from the treatment.
What Is An Addiction Specialist To Your Recovery Plan?
If you or a loved one has a drug or alcohol addiction, you cannot let the issue continue to ruin your life and those around you. Addiction specialists at a recovery center, like San Antonio Recovery Center, work with a team of experts dedicated to helping you to regain your life. Some of the services you will find at this location include the following:
- Women’s Drug Addiction Rehab Program
- Inpatient Drug Rehab Program
- 12-Step Program
- 90-Day Treatment Program
- Intensive Outpatient Program
- Aftercare Treatment Program
Addiction to drugs or alcohol will ruin your life, steal your health, and reduce your bank account. Stop the process now. While getting help is hard, staying addicted will make your life even more difficult. There is no better time than now to pick up the phone and call us at San Antonio Recovery Center at 866.957.7885. Stop putting your life on hold. Get the help that you need now before it’s too late.
