What Is a Substance Abuse Counselor?

A substance abuse counselor is a professional who treats substance abuse disorders. Substance abuse counselors work in numerous settings including treatment centers, jails, drug courts, private practices, halfway houses, prisons and hospital emergency rooms. Substance abuse counselors also conduct workshops, run community training events, write books and articles and make public speaking appearances to create awareness about substance abuse issues. In rare circumstances, substance abuse counselors complete substance abuse assessments or counseling on an in-home basis, for clients who need treatment but are unable to travel to a substance abuse treatment facility to receive it.

General Requirements

Generally, the requirements for becoming a substance abuse counselor involve obtaining a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education, at the very least. To perform counseling duties on a professional level, it is necessary to obtain a master's degree from an accredited institution, within the field of human services.

While having a master's degree within the field of psychology, counseling, social work or a related field enables you to become a substance abuse counselor, it does not meet every qualification necessary to become a qualified professional within the field of substance abuse. Because a qualified professional is allowed to approve treatment plans, and supervise other staff, it is necessary to complete the process of certification as a substance abuse counselor to serve as a qualified professional within the field of substance abuse.

Certification Requirements

Simply earning the certification of Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Social Worker (LSW) does not automatically qualify a counselor to be a certified substance abuse or addiction counselor. While licensed counselors are legally able to treat substance abuse clients, the dynamics present in addicted individuals are very different from those found in other mental health patients or clients. Therefore, specific knowledge of the addiction process and related behaviors is necessary to effectively treat individuals with addictive disease. Many LPCs and LSWs also become Certified Addiction Counselors (CAC).

Certification as a substance abuse counselor requires 6,000 hours of supervised work experience or the equivalent degrees specific to the alcohol and drug domains that include clinical evaluation; treatment planning; referral; service coordination; counseling; client, family and community education; documentation and professional and ethical responsibility. To sit for the certification exam, the prospective certified counselor must receive at least 270 hours of continuing education units in substance abuse related education and 300 hours of face-to-face supervision from a certified substance abuse supervisor. You must pass both a state and international or national certification exam, depending on the certification being sought. Once certified, you must sign a code of ethics statement or affirmation statement, and earn 40 or more continuing education credits every 2 years.

Duties

Duties of substance abuse counselors include conducting individual and group therapy sessions and completing substance abuse assessments, client treatment plans, progress notes, client referrals, service coordination and all related documentation. Substance abuse counselors teach drug education classes to clients, their families and the community. Substance abuse counselors teach clients relapse prevention skills and relapse warning signs, and they offer encouragement and support to recovering individuals.

Difficuties

Substance abuse counseling is a very high stress profession, and counselor burnout is common. Counselors often deal with huge caseloads of court-ordered and otherwise reluctant client populations, many of whom did not initially choose to enter the treatment process. Much documentation is required, and much accountability is demanded. Counselors often work long hours, dealing with large caseloads at very low pay, considering the level of education required to do the work.

Income

Substance abuse counselor income is very low compared with that of other professions requiring the same level of education. Substance abuse counselors generally earn about $28,500 the first year, advancing to about $40,500 annually after 20 or more years of service, when holding a master's degree and professional certification.