Introduction
The problem of substance abuse is one of the most topical issues in the sphere of human and health services. Millions of individuals have this disorder and suffer from the gradual decrease in the quality of their lives and the emergence of adverse conditions. Under these conditions, substance abuse aid is one of the critical activities aimed at improving the nation’s health and helping those in need. People in this sector might encounter different individuals, requiring specific skills to remain effective and resolve issues that emerge in daily interactions. A correct vision of problems a person might encounter, and the competencies necessary to resolve them is vital for enhanced outcomes.
Essential Skills for Success in the Role
Thus, substance abuse aid implies working with people and understanding their needs. Under these conditions, communication skills are critical for a specialist providing help to drug-addicted people (Reid, 2016). They help to evaluate their states, understand the root of the problem, and provide the necessary care.
Second, it is essential to address all patients’ requirements and connect them with different types of healthcare professionals, meaning that teamwork skills and delegation are vital (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Finally, today, digital treatments can be used to help addicted people, which means that a specialist should possess computer competencies to explain to patients how they can use the programs available (Bonfiglio et al., 2022). These capabilities are central to a specialist’s work in this sphere.
Client Interactions and the Role of Cultural Awareness
Furthermore, it is vital to consider that there is a large diversity of people who might require help because of their substance abuse. For instance, a significant number of heroin users acquire dependence as a result of chronic pain and use painkillers (TEDx Talks, 2019). Moreover, patterns might differ in various groups because of their backgrounds (Reid, 2016). For this reason, specialists should be culturally aware to consider the peculiarities of every individual and realize what approaches might be more effective due to their unique characteristics (Reid, 2016).
It is also essential for addressing bias and mitigating its adverse effects. For instance, stereotypes are impacting the delivery of care to individuals from vulnerable groups, such as Black or Latina people (Farahmand et al., 2020). It is believed that they start using drugs because of specific personal peculiarities, which might impact the quality of care (Farahmand et al., 2020). For this reason, being culturally aware will help to consider the real roots of the problem and eliminate them.
Common Workplace Challenges and the Application of Skills
A person helping addicted people might also face several problems specific to the sphere. For instance, the issue of stigma is critical when speaking about drug abuse. Research shows that individuals might start using drugs because of shame related to different situations or conditions (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). These might include chronic diseases, disability, poverty, or social background (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
Stigma might prevent individuals from asking for help and addressing specialists. For this reason, it is vital to resolve the problem using communication skills. By speaking with clients, asking them about their concerns, and sharing with them, a specialist might build trustful relations and acquire a better understanding of a specific case.
Conclusion
Altogether, providing help to addicted people requires specific skills and competencies from a specialist. A person should possess outstanding communication and teamwork capabilities and be able to work with technologies to help clients. Cultivating cultural awareness is essential to guarantee that no stereotypes are employed when interacting with patients. It would help to establish trustful and close relations and provide comprehensive and systemic care required in complex cases.
References
Bonfiglio, N. S., Mascia, M. L., Cataudella, S., & Penna, M. P. (2022). Digital help for substance users (SU): A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 11309. Web.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Recovery is for everyone: Understanding treatment of substance use disorders. Web.
Farahmand, P., Arshed, A., & Bradley, M. V. (2020). Systemic racism and substance use disorders. Psychiatric Annals, 50(11), 494–498. Web.
Reid, T. (2016). Substance abuse: Influences, treatment options and health effects. Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
TEDx Talks. (2019). Unlocking the cure to substance use disorder | Brad Finegood | TEDxUofW. [Video]. YouTube. Web.