The forgotten few have, to come degree, broken hearts

To The Daily Sun,

The FORGOTTEN FEW? The drug epidemic continues on taking tens of thousands of lives in the U.S. annually. Public awareness, concerned politicians and a responsive health care system is building momentum against the epidemic and eventually good will prevail. The epidemic will be diminished as we gain the upper hand. But lets not forget the independent clinicians like myself who repeatedly sit in the shadow as the media "spotlights" the bigger substance use disorder (SUD) service providers. There are several very dedicated independent practitioners in the greater Laconia area who offer many of the same services as the bigger centers.

I have been in Laconia as a private practice clinician since around 2011 and many others in the area like me have been here a lot longer. These devoted professionals, whether they are in recovery from substance use disorder or not, have a lot to offer. Many of these devoted private practitioners have day jobs with other agencies and work extra hours at night and on weekends. Many of us are older as it takes a long time to get through 6-7 years of full-time college and grad school, as well as accumulating the long-term experience that is necessary to become advanced level mental health and SUD treatment psycho therapists. We, as colleagues on the front lines are familiar with each others’ challenges that confront us in our solo endeavors. The licensed clinicians, practitioners and counselors that I know all have my respect and admiration since being out here directly in the community, essentially alone, has its pros and cons that only we can fully understand once we are actually here doing it. I’ve known SUD providers who rush from their agency full-time jobs to catch up with scheduled night time appointments that often bring them late into the evening. During our training as professional treatment providers in human service work we learn that it is imperative that we all devote ourselves in cohesion to the best wellbeing of the those who are afflicted, as well as the community overall.

Any of us who can get through the curriculum of the advanced education requirements of the SUD profession to become licensed practitioners are intelligent enough to accomplish an MBA or related business credential, which obviously would make us a lot more money. However, we choose to work in a far less lucrative profession. We choose to do this for humanistic-based reasons just as many MDs who could be much more prosperous business persons stay in the medical field.

As the most of the attention goes to the bigger agencies that we need and are grateful for, PLEASE remember those of us who can offer flexibility and private personal therapy. We need the community SUD treatment NETWORK… all shapes and sizes. The drug epidemic wants death and misery. Because of this scourge EVERY one, such as family members, law enforcement, legal professionals, clinical workers, teachers, firemen, clergy, news reporters and of course those who struggle against the odds to survive in recovery… has, to some degree a broken heart, usually a very broken heart.

Michael Tensel

A&D Recovery Counseling

Laconia