Understanding the Nature of Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs

A substance abuse counselor deals with individuals addicted to substances like alcohol and drugs. Known by popular names like substance abuse technicians, chemical dependency technicians and rehabilitation counselors, these professionals guide and support the drug abused to develop coping mechanisms towards their addiction. Considering the number of substance addicts to be in millions, the substance abuse counselor jobs are in huge demand.

Places to Work

A substance abuse counselor can find job at a number of places, some of which are mentioned below:

" Drug and alcohol treatment centers

" Rehabilitation centers

" Hospitals

" Social welfare agencies

" Homeless shelters and halfway houses

" Prisons and jails and so on

Counseling Services

A substance abuse counselors shoulder the responsibility to provide counseling to different set of individuals. For example:

Individual counseling is offered by these professionals separately to each and every person struggling with substance addiction.

Through group counseling, these counselors help a group of substance addicts to trace out their reasons for addiction and methods to get out of the situations.

Family counseling services are offered to the family members of the drug addicts, so that they can help the addicts to manage the coping skills.

Prevention counseling is offered by the counselor to those who are recovering from drug addiction, so that such individuals don't turn back to the addictive substances.



Working Requirements

It is important to know that the substance abuse counselor jobs can be frustrating and depressing at times. This is because the counselor is required to work with individuals, who might get violent, attempt suicide or are highly emotional. Emotional stability is one of the main requirements for this job profile. Sometimes, these individuals are also diagnosed to have AIDS and other infections. A counselor might need to spend 35-40 hours of the week at job.

Thus, it is important to take expert career advice before choosing to work as a substance abuse counselor.