6 Reasons to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor

You want to pursue a career helping others. Have you considered being a substance abuse counselor? These professionals are an integral part of recovery for those who struggle with substance misuse. Discover what substance abuse counselors do and explore six reasons why their jobs are deeply rewarding.

Who Are Substance Abuse Counselors?

Substance abuse counselors help individuals manage substance use disorders (SUD) while also providing support services and education for families, employers, and communities. Recent guidelines from the National Institute on Drug Abuse suggest that these professionals should move toward job titles as SUD counselors and substance misuse counselors.¹

Regardless of their title, those in the field can work in hospitals, mental health centers, community health centers, inpatient/outpatient settings, and private practice. Some apply their skills to serve specific populations such as adolescents, youth at risk, and those who are incarcerated.

Depending on their work environment, a substance abuse counselor’s daily tasks can vary, but the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) states that all counselors should strive for a common goal: consistent, high-quality care for their clients’ optimal recovery.²

How Do They Address Substance Abuse?

Some of the primary responsibilities of substance abuse counselors are to:

• Create Treatment Plans: A treatment plan is a written document that summarizes a client’s assessments, expectations, and goals. The plan isn’t just a counselor’s report but also a collaborative guide SAMHSA describes as “mutually agreed-on and measurable treatment goals and objectives.”² This ongoing record keeps all parties accountable throughout a client’s care.
• Provide Counseling and Therapy: Substance abuse counselors benefit from training in behavioral therapy; according to Medical News Today, these can include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), assertive community treatment (ACT), and more.³ An undergraduate psychology program like Bay Path University’s BA in Psychology is a great introduction to behavioral therapy for counseling professionals.
• Strengthen Sobriety: Successful counselors strive to prevent relapse. Soberlink, a company that provides monitoring systems for those in recovery, describes how counselors can encourage a client’s sobriety: by identifying triggers, developing a support system, establishing effective self-care, and tracking substance use.⁴ Counselors also address relapse with personalized prevention plans that include coping strategies.
• Understand the Physiology of Substance Use Disorder: Substance use is not always a conscious decision. In fact, frequent substance use causes physical changes in the brain. The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers explains how these changes reduce an individual’s ability to deny their cravings and reflect on their substance use.⁵ As their physical dependence lessens, clients often work with counselors to reduce the stress of recovery.

Six Reasons to Pursue Substance Abuse Counseling

Although their job can be stressful, substance abuse counselors can experience inspirational client outcomes and benefit from thriving, rewarding careers.

1. Foster Successful Outcomes

Almost every counselor experiences the positive impact they have on their clients, and some witness incredibly emotional moments. Imagine congratulating a client on one year of recovery, moving a family toward reconciliation, or guiding a client through the transition out of incarceration. Some counselors get to see their clients help others along the same journey.

2. Take Part in Several Stages of Recovery

Substance abuse counselors are involved in every stage of clients’ recovery journey. They work to prevent SUD and intervene in crises. They lead clients through initial intake and ongoing assessment. Then, these counselors connect with clients throughout recovery and into sobriety. When clients need additional resources, substance abuse counselors can refer them to psychologists, social workers, doctors, career coaches, and more.

3. Give Back to Others

Counselors with a history of addiction have unique perspectives that can help their clients. Because they have experienced addiction firsthand, those in recovery can build trust as they empathize with others. This approach is so effective that over two-thirds of all addiction counselors are recovering addicts, according to ChooseHelp.com, a resource for professional addiction treatment.⁶ Counselors in recovery have skills that cannot be learned in a classroom, such as empathy, humility, and mutual respect.

4. Create A Healthier Community

As part of education and prevention, substance abuse counselors frequently develop and conduct community outreach programs. This responsibility is outlined in SAMHSA’s Counseling Competency Framework, which states that counselors should connect clients with available treatment services and community resources.² They are also tasked with conducting culturally responsive educational programs on topics related to SUD.

5. Advance in Growing Careers

Roles for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in the U.S. are growing much faster than the average for other occupations. The U.S. Department of Labor projects an 18% growth rate from 2022 to 2032, which equals over 42,000 jobs each year over the decade.⁷ Now is an opportune time for those considering these careers to take the next step.

6. Build Salary Potential

The median annual salary for substance abuse counselors was $58,650 in February 2024, according to Salary.com, and those in the top 90% of the field made $73,208.⁸ Their salaries are often based on their years of experience and specialized skills. According to PayScale, these professionals can increase their salary with counseling, group therapy, case management, and treatment planning skills.⁹ One of the most valuable skills for substance abuse counselors is cognitive behavioral therapy; PayScale reports that counselors who practice CBT can make a 21% higher salary.⁹

How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor

If you’d like to become a substance abuse counselor, your first step is a bachelor’s degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics specifies that common fields of undergraduate study include psychology, public policy and social services, and social science.¹⁰ These programs will establish your foundation in the field and hone your listening, communication, and therapeutic skills.

Bay Path University’s online BA in Psychology: Foundations of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling is a great way to start. With support from expert faculty, you’ll explore the causes of substance use disorders and prepare to support those struggling to overcome addiction. You’ll be able to pursue career advancement as you experience one of University HQ’s Best Online Bachelor’s in Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees for 2024.¹¹

Find out more about the program by requesting information, or start your online application today.

Sources

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). “Words Matter: Preferred Language for Talking About Addiction.” June 23, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/addiction-science/words-matter-preferred-language-talking-about-addiction#:~:text=Stigma%20about%20people%20with%20substance%20use%20disorders%20might,fear%20of%20things%20that%20are%20different%20or%20misunderstood.
2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). “The Substance Use Disorder Counseling Competency Framework: An Overview.” 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep20-02-01-017.pdf.
3. Medical News Today. “Drug abuse vs. misuse: What is the difference?” December 5, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drug-abuse-vs-misuse#summary.
4. Soberlink. “Why Substance Abuse Counseling is a Fulfilling Career.” September 7, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://soberlink.com/addiction-recovery-blog/why-substance-abuse-counseling-is-a-fulfilling-career.
5. National Association of Treatment Providers. “The Science Behind Addiction.” Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://naatp.org/addiction-treatment-resources/understanding-addiction.
6. ChooseHelp.com. “In Recovery: Becoming an Addictions Counselor – How to Succeed and What to Consider.” Retrieved May 1, 2024, from https://choosehelp.com/topics/recovery/becoming-an-addictions-counselor.
7. U.S. Department of Labor. “Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors.” O*NET OnLine. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://onetonline.org/link/summary/21-1011.00.
8. Salary.com. “Substance Abuse Counselor Salary in the United States.” February 26, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://salary.com/research/salary/alternate/substance-abuse-counselor-salary.
9. PayScale. “Average Substance Abuse Counselor Hourly Pay.” February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://payscale.com/research/US/Job=Substance_Abuse_Counselor/Hourly_Rate.
10. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors.” September 6, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm#tab-8.
11. University Headquarters (UniversityHQ). “Best Online Bachelor’s in Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees for 2024.” Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://universityhq.org/degrees/online-bachelors-substance-abuse-counseling-programs/.

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