Millions of Americans deal with substance abuse on a daily basis. Whether they struggle with alcohol addiction, drug addiction, or other forms of addiction, dealing with substance abuse and addiction can have a toll on daily life. Waking up in the morning becomes harder when fighting addiction, and having a good night of sleep can be tough when the mind is stuck on a particular addiction. For the many people suffering from substance abuse, help is often necessary. Dealing with addiction on your own is tough, so seeking help is recommended.
Help with substance abuse can come in many different forms. Some individuals may choose to seek help through family and friends, while others may seek help in hypnotherapy or psychologists. However, many people are beginning to utilize the services of a substance abuse counselor as a cheaper, effective alternative.
A substance abuse counselor helps people struggling with substance abuse. That is, a substance abuse counselor works with individuals to help them overcome problems related to their substance abuse. Often times, a substance abuse counselor will work with a group in recovery programs. Other times, a substance abuse counselor will work with the individual to develop a personalized recovery program that includes working to fix substance abuse and all of the social, emotional, and mental problems that may come with it. In essence, a substance abuse counselor works to understand how substance abuse affects a person and the people around him or her.
Similar to a substance abuse counselor, an addiction counselor works with groups or individuals to develop a recovery program for a particular addiction. This addiction may include addition to substances such as alcohol and drugs, and for that reason addiction counselors are often substance abuse counselors as well. However, an addiction counselor generally focuses on behavioral disorders such as gambling, sex, or other forms of addiction. They may also work with individuals struggling with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa.
Job opportunities for both a substance abuse counselor and addiction counselor are very positive. Government economists predict that jobs for this career will grow much faster than the average for all other jobs. In fact, substance abuse and addiction counseling is one of the 20 quickest growing careers. Legislation in many states have created jobs for substance abuse and addiction counselors, leading many drug users to get treatment with a counselor, instead of going to jail. However, the pay is relatively low, and the career is very stressful and very emotionally draining. After all, to help others through their problems requires a counselor to get personal and understand the problems of their clients. This understanding helps substance abuse counselors and addiction counselors be the stable presence of support for their clients, no matter how large the problem is. Additionally, the job can be very tough, as their clientele often have only a 20 percent success rate. The recidivism of clients can be heartbreaking to both the client and the counselor.
That being said, becoming a substance abuse counselor or addiction counselor will allow an individual to help others in need. By listening to their clients’ problems and developing strategies to help their clients through a tough period of abuse or addiction, these counselors provide a service that is necessary in a world of addiction like ours.