Schools and Education
What's Needed:
- Education requirements can range from a Master's degree to just a high school diploma.
- In many states a licensed drug abuse counselor needs a Master's degree in Addiction and Substance Abuse.
- Those with more college education have opportunities to provide more services to clients including one-on-one counseling sessions.
- Those interested in this field should check their state's educational requirements before looking for schools for applicable programs.
The education programs focus on practice theory ethics and research methods of substance abuse counseling. Many of the programs include an internship or a capstone experience.
Many of those seeking a Master degree in Substance Abuse Counseling or Counseling have a bachelor's degree in psychology. Most Bachelor in Psychology degree programs include specializations; many of those interested in a counseling career select a clinical or health-related specialization.
What you study:
- Patient assessment
- Group counseling techniques
- Treatment planning
- Case management skills
- Crisis intervention
- Individual counseling
- Interviewing techniques
- Types of substance abuse
What courses you'll take
Below are examples of courses that you'll likely take as a student pursueing a degree or advanced certificate in addiction or substance abuse counseling.
| Course | Studies | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Drugs and Behavior | Introduces types of commonly abused drugs and the problems that result. Gives a historical context and presents models that explain the causes of chemical dependencies. Considers the effects of abuse on the abuser his/her family and his/her community. Presents primary types of therapies currently in use. | Introduce core knowledge in the field that prepares students for more advanced training. |
| Alcoholism | Reviews alcoholism in a multi-dimensional way covering factors such as sociological psychological physiological and behavioral. Looks at current tools for diagnosis and treatments. | Provide students with an understanding of the disease of alcoholism to ready them for advanced studies. |
| Pharmacology | Looks at mechanisms behind chemical dependencies including drug tolerance synergies between drugs and withdrawal. Reviews the effects on the body and the role of the liver and kidneys in absorption of chemicals in the body. Covers side effects of abused drugs. | Provide a core understanding of how drugs become addictive to facilitate evaluation of patients. |
| Counseling | Introduces various counseling theories with emphasis on those most commonly used for substance abuse and addiction treatments. Covers the process of counseling what is needed in a therapy relationship and ethical considerations. | Give a foundation for applying counseling theories and for helping the development of a student's own personal counseling approach. |
| Group Counseling | Considers the kinds of interactions within a group setting for people with substance abuse histories. Provides theoretical understanding of group dynamics and workshops in which students take on group roles. Teaches observation and communication skills for leading support groups. | Prepare students to use support groups as a counseling tool. |
| Addiction and Family Impact | Looks at how addictions impact families including the roles of family members behaviors between members and symptoms. Presents strategies for assessing and intervening within the family with the goal of restoring healthy relationships. | Prepare students to counsel families with addiction issues. |
| Relapse Prevention | Reviews warning signs and factors related to relapses in addicts and alcoholics. Looks at recovery an addict's relationships and self care. | Ready students to identify prevent and treat substance abuse relapses. |
| Dual Diagnosis | Covers the symptoms common to individuals that have both a chemical addiction and mental health condition. Reviews treatment needs including multi-disciplined treatments. | Prepare students to treat patients with both drug addiction and mental health issues. |
| Ethics and Legal Concerns | Covers court procedures and laws related to drug-related offenses. Ethics topics can include non-discrimination client welfare confidentiality and client relationships. | Give students background knowledge to effectively consider the law and professional ethics as part of their counseling decision making. |
Video Overview
A short introduction into the work of Substance Abuse Counselors. Created for the US Dept. of Labor.
A Day in the Life
Substance abuse counselors need compassion and a strong desire to help people. One of the major challenges you'll deal with is controlling your emotions while dealing with clients. You'll likely experience emotional highs and lows.
You'll often be involved in crisis intervention. Crisis intervention demands a nonjudgmental sympathetic attitude and a lot of support.
A large number of drug addicts need help in many areas of their lives. Drug abuse counselors refer clients to an array of other services which may provide them a solid platform to deal with their drug addition.
You may have to deal with homeless clients with mental illness. Substance abuse counselors also have to deal with their own sadness and frustration when clients slip back into strong drug abuse. Learning drug addict clients have died is obviously a difficult aspect of the job.
Substance abuse counselors often work with the family members of drug abusers. Some drug abuse counselors specialize in working with post-rehab clients helping them obtain services. Drug abuse counselors sometimes work under the supervision of psychologists physicians and social workers.
You may provide individual and/or group counseling. In group counseling sessions you'll lead the group guiding discussion and providing feedback and strategies for clients.
Certifications and Licensing
Drug abuse counselors in private practice need a license which typically requires a masters's degree along with two thousand to three thousand hours of supervise clinical experience. Drug abuse counselors are required to pass a state-recognized exam and complete continuing education requirements every year.
The license and certification requirements for drug abuse counselors not working in private practice varies by the state. For example not every state requires a specific degree but many states require candidates to pass an exam.
Job Flexibility
Full-time versus part-time: Most substance abuse counselors work full-time. In some environments such as inpatient facilities they might work nights or weekends.
Work location: Substance abuse counselors work in a wide array of setting such as mental health centers probation or parole agencies prisons employed assistance programs residential treatment centers outpatient treatment centers. They also work in private practice halfway houses detox centers and juvenile detention facilities.
Recommended Websites
- The American Counseling Association (ACA) provides an array of resources. The website provides information in categories such as Professional Development Online Learning and Ethics. The ACA offers resources to help students become a professional counselor. The American Counseling Association helps students with their personal and professional growth and also provides networking opportunities. The ACA Conference & Expo offers a variety of networking and educational offerings.
- The National Board For Certified Counselors provides important information about certifications state licensure exams and about its services. The website also provides study guides. The National Board For Certified Counselors provides information about the Examination for Master Addictions Counselors.
- The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs provides important information about accreditation. The website also provides useful tips for selecting a graduate program and provides information about obtaining a license after graduation.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook The US Bureau of Labor Statistics handbook section titled "Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors" provides reference information and data about this career including lists of activities the workplace environment job outlooks and more.
- O*NET OnLine's summary provides a highly statistical look at substance abuse careers covering many different aspects of the job including its knowledge skills abilities interests values and so on.
Salaries by City
See typical salaries and ranges for this career below Shift click to sort by more than one column — for example first shift-click on state and then shift-click on salary to find best and worst salaries in each state.
State City / Region Typical Salary Salary Range Job Count % of All Jobs AK Anchorage $44510 $34K – $68K 120 0.07% AL Birmingham – Hoover $39720 $32K – $57K 240 0.05% AL Huntsville $26670 $18K – $37K 50 0.03% AL Mobile $35900 $26K – $69K 70 0.04% AL Montgomery $43560 $36K – $56K 50 0.03% AR Fayetteville – Springdale – Rogers $51150 $32K – $60K 30 0.02% AR Fort Smith $30960 $26K – $43K 40 0.04% AR Little Rock – North Little Rock – Conway $35710 $21K – $56K 110 0.03% AZ Phoenix – Mesa – Glendale $38150 $21K – $67K 1000 0.06% AZ Prescott $31440 $19K – $47K 30 0.06% AZ Tucson $35940 $26K – $51K 470 0.13% CA Bakersfield – Delano $46020 $28K – $57K 110 0.04% CA Chico $34050 $23K – $54K 90 0.13% CA El Centro $43930 $31K – $68K 40 0.08% CA Fresno $33010 $26K – $54K 290 0.09% CA Los Angeles – Long Beach – Glendale (Metro Area) $28960 $18K – $47K 2830 0.07% CA Modesto $50050 $25K – $60K 160 0.10% CA Napa $32260 $25K – $46K 70 0.11% CA Oakland – Fremont – Hayward (Metro Area) $41290 $30K – $82K 580 0.06% CA Oxnard – Thousand Oaks – Ventura $35170 $21K – $48K 200 0.07% CA Riverside – San Bernardino – Ontario $35930 $26K – $59K 830 0.07% CA Sacramento – Arden – Arcade – Roseville $33950 $24K – $57K 580 0.07% CA Salinas $41990 $32K – $60K 230 0.15% CA San Diego – Carlsbad – San Marcos $33850 $23K – $54K 590 0.05% CA San Francisco – San Mateo – Redwood City (Metro Area) $40820 $30K – $58K 510 0.05% CA San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara $38430 $29K – $68K 260 0.03% CA Santa Ana – Anaheim – Irvine (Metro Area) $30910 $24K – $55K 470 0.03% CA Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Goleta $33900 $26K – $55K 160 0.10% CA Santa Cruz – Watsonville $29320 $21K – $46K 120 0.14% CA Santa Rosa – Petaluma $34820 $26K – $61K 180 0.11% CA Stockton $51110 $26K – $65K 140 0.07% CA Vallejo – Fairfield $34390 $25K – $59K N/A N/A CA Visalia – Porterville $41360 $23K – $70K 90 0.07% CA Yuba City $26620 $21K – $42K 50 0.14% CO Boulder $44310 $29K – $59K 110 0.07% CO Colorado Springs $40380 $26K – $52K N/A N/A CO Denver – Aurora – Broomfield $39500 $22K – $59K 730 0.06% CO Fort Collins – Loveland $37100 $25K – $59K 60 0.04% CO Pueblo $29880 $21K – $49K 170 0.31% CT Bridgeport – Stamford – Norwalk $45270 $34K – $66K 200 0.05% CT Danbury $49180 $31K – $67K 30 0.05% CT Hartford – West Hartford – East Hartford $45760 $32K – $67K 790 0.14% CT New Haven $39160 $27K – $67K 240 0.09% CT Norwich – New London $39350 $33K – $70K 80 0.06% CT Waterbury $44340 $27K – $69K 190 0.31% DC Washington – Arlington – Alexandria (Metro Area) $49330 $32K – $78K 1020 0.04% DE Wilmington (Metro Area) $38340 $32K – $56K 260 0.08% FL Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach $43190 $27K – $62K 80 0.05% FL Fort Lauderdale – Pompano Beach – Deerfield Beach (Metro Area) $36280 $21K – $62K 540 0.08% FL Gainesville $36260 $26K – $58K 130 0.11% FL Jacksonville $41380 $29K – $60K 170 0.03% FL Lakeland – Winter Haven $48680 $26K – $59K N/A N/A FL Miami – Miami Beach – Kendall (Metro Area) $45470 $22K – $74K 290 0.03% FL North Port – Bradenton – Sarasota $44160 $23K – $63K 90 0.04% FL Ocala $38380 $22K – $58K 90 0.11% FL Orlando – Kissimmee – Sanford $37480 $26K – $58K 380 0.04% FL Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville $36070 $22K – $53K 140 0.07% FL Panama City – Lynn Haven – Panama City Beach $23300 $18K – $37K 160 0.22% FL Pensacola – Ferry Pass – Brent $36450 $29K – $53K 230 0.15% FL Port St. Lucie $33120 $20K – $62K 150 0.12% FL Tallahassee $44540 $35K – $58K 50 0.03% FL Tampa – St. Petersburg – Clearwater $45680 $25K – $75K 470 0.04% FL West Palm Beach – Boca Raton – Boynton Beach (Metro Area) $44770 $34K – $68K 350 0.07% GA Atlanta – Sandy Springs – Marietta $38730 $26K – $59K 890 0.04% GA Augusta – Richmond County $36680 $29K – $47K 90 0.05% GA Columbus $42660 $32K – $49K 30 0.03% GA Macon $45200 $31K – $60K N/A N/A GA Rome $31250 $26K – $52K 30 0.09% GA Savannah $35300 $25K – $56K 130 0.08% GA Valdosta $32320 $26K – $46K 40 0.09% HI Honolulu $41580 $25K – $67K 230 0.05% IA Davenport – Moline – Rock Island $34230 $27K – $59K 40 0.02% IA Des Moines – West Des Moines $47680 $34K – $67K 110 0.03% IA Iowa City $54240 $35K – $69K N/A N/A ID Boise City – Nampa $42150 $30K – $49K 510 0.20% ID Coeur d'Alene ID $26090 $16K – $37K 60 0.12% ID Idaho Falls $40860 $32K – $56K 60 0.13% ID Pocatello $40590 $30K – $56K 110 0.32% IL Chicago – Joliet – Naperville (Metro Area) $38580 $27K – $59K 1260 0.03% IL Lake County – Kenosha County (Metro Area) $44350 $32K – $71K 70 0.02% IL Peoria $29990 $25K – $43K 110 0.06% IL Rockford $34130 $23K – $44K 80 0.06% IN Anderson $29470 $26K – $54K N/A N/A IN Elkhart – Goshen $39610 $24K – $52K 50 0.05% IN Evansville $30200 $17K – $56K 70 0.04% IN Fort Wayne $37090 $24K – $62K 40 0.02% IN Gary (Metro Area) $31410 $20K – $44K 120 0.05% IN Indianapolis – Carmel $40690 $27Kr">$36570 $28K – $52K 40 0.03% IN Terre Haute $29010 $26K – $39K 30 0.05% KS Lawrence $40890 $32K – $55K 40 0.08% KS Topeka $38170 $29K – $46K 40 0.04% KS Wichita $32780 $25K – $45K 190 0.07% KY Elizabethtown $32230 $17K – $42K 50 0.11% KY Lexington – Fayette $28640 $17K – $77K 40 0.01% KY Louisville – Jefferson County $36210 $25K – $62K 420 0.07% LA Baton Rouge $33640 $18K – $54K 120 0.03% LA New Orleans – Metairie – Kenner $37480 $21K – $49K 120 0.02% LA Shreveport – Bossier City $36020 $26K – $57K 60 0.03% MA Barnstable Town $ $31K – $55K 100 0.10% MA Boston – Cambridge – Quincy (Metro Area) $43230 $32K – $57K 1270 0.07% MA Brockton – Bridgewater – Easton (Metro Area) $47310 $29K – $74K 90 0.10% MA Framingham (Metro Area)
