How to Become a Substance Abuse Educator
As the threat of substance abuse clouds communities worldwide, officials and lay people search for innovative and effective ways to combat the problem. Substance abuse educators are on the front lines of the campaign to educate people about the dangers of substance abuse, to prevent the problem wherever possible and to work to correct it where it already exists. Working as a substance abuse educator is a job for dedicated individuals. Becoming a substance abuse educator requires a commitment to the community and an abundance of patience.
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Instructions
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Becoming a Substance Abuse Educator
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Investigate how to acquire certification as a substance abuse educator through an accredited program. Programs for substance abuse educators are available as part of many universities' degree programs in health, social work, education, psychology, or mental health fields.
Alternately some states offer accreditation programs through their state agencies.
Contact the state's Department of Human Services to find out what the requirements are to work as a substance abuse educator in that state.
The state's Department of Social Services can provide information about which institutions have programs that will provide the credentials to meet those requirements.
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Learn about substance abuse education from online resources and organizations.
Some websites with extensive information about substance abuse education include the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the American Council for Drug Education.
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Speak to people already working in the field of drug education. Call your local Board of Education to ask if they can provide names of substance abuse educators who work in the schools. Contact a local support group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous to ask if one of their professional counselors will discuss her work.
Ask her to share her perspective about substance abuse. Some questions to ask might include:
What are the warning signs that someone is abusing drugs or alcohol?
What resources are available to an individual who is addicted?
What resources are available to an individual who suspects that a friend or family member is addicted, or may be becoming addicted?
What seems to trigger drug or alcohol abuse?
What educational tools seem to work when discussing with people, especially youth, why they should not experiment with drugs? -
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Contact individuals who are enrolled in a self-help program (such as AA) to wean themselves from drugs or alcohol.
Ask them to share their thoughts on the following:
Why did they start abusing drugs or alcohol?
How would they try to persuade someone to stay away from substances which could be abused?Most self-help programs protect participants' privacy but it is possible to "chat" with people enrolled in such a program through Internet forums and chat rooms.
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Go to a school on "Drug Education Day" to watch how the educators talk to the students. The local Board of Education will have a district-wide calendar of events that will list such activities.
Talk to the students afterward to see which discussions affected them. Ask the students why they think that a particular lecture or activity was effective.
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Search the Internet for creative and innovative substance abuse lesson plans that have been successful.
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