How helpful are addictionologists?

[southernbelle]

What do addictionologists do exactly?  How can they help you as opposed to a regular psychiatric professional?  I need to seek help, not necessarily with detox, but to get to the real reason why I can't function without these pills, pain or no pain.  What can I expect from an addictionologist?  Will I forever be labeled a "drugee" if I see someone?  WIll an addictionologist be able to help me taper down?  I'm just curious if anyone has experience or has been to one before.
For the Doc -- How can an addictionologist help me?  What can I expect if I visit on and pour my heart out to him and lay it all out on the table?  Will I be "branded" for the rest of my life?  Or will I get real help?  What's the best thing to do?

[southernbelle]

i sent you an email. did you get it?  i'd like your input on something.  thanks so much!
peace and love to everybody.

[stefni]

how do i find a assictionologist in fort worth tx please e-mail me at
***@****

[usarmymedic1]

stef repost in the fourum and you will get a better reply

[usarmymedic1]

Addictionology is not a medical specialty recognized by the American Medical Association. Most addictionologists are physicians or others that went to rehab and couldn't practice in their trained specialty anymore because their reputation was ruined. So they become consultants for rehab facilities or otherwise. The "science" of addiction is very much in it's infancy, and the methods used are unproven by scientific studies. For instance, the rate of recovery from cigarretes and alcohol over a 5 year period of time is the same for those who go into rehab and those who don't. Addictionology is a pseudo-specialty based on pseudo- science, populated by health professionals long on sincerity and short on science. Maybe someday we will understand addictions properly.

[Mikeinthesouth]

I think they have a hot iron and brand our foreheads with addict or dope head as opposed to shrinks just say what do you think about that and how do you feel about that??

[Mikeinthesouth]

So Sorry just kidding.