Substance Abuse Counselor

To become a counselor you need a B.A. plus two years of counseling in a related field. Someone who is a former addict is considered to have experience in the field of substance abuse counseling.  A substance abuse counselor must be well versed in the cause and affect of alcohol and drug related dependencies. They must also have a true desire to help those who are in crisis. The average day of a counselor can be very hectic and challenging, which is why a genuine desire to help those with addictions is needed to be a good substance abuse counselor.

People withdrawing from addiction can be mean, spiteful and hateful. It is not that they intend to be, or even want to be, but it is a part of the addiction and the removal of the toxic substance from the body. A substance abuse counselor must deal with people going through withdrawal on a regular basis. It takes a lot of compassion to be a successful counselor.

Good training is essential in order to grasp the physical, chemical, emotional and spiritual effects of drugs and alcohol on the human body. Understanding what happens when an addict goes without the drug for any length of time is also imperative. An understanding of the social system is also important since substance abuse counselors often make referrals for things such as food pantries. Counselors must also work occasionally with welfare workers and family services.

The job can be stressful, but it can also be very rewarding. A substance abuse counselor is in essence helping someone put their lives back together. Many times, addiction is not the patient’s only problem. There may be homelessness, mental illness, AIDS or a number of other factors affecting the addict’s life. While the substance abuse counselor cannot deal with all of those issues, they should know who to refer the addict to for further help.

Being a substance abuse counselor takes patience, knowledge, compassion and understanding. Knowing that the actions of the addict are not personal, but rather chemical can help a counselor deal with some of the more difficult addicts. Drug abuse has reached pandemic proportions and more substance abuse counselors are needed to meet the growing needs. When an addict decides to get help, a caring and well trained substance abuse counselor can be the best thing that has ever happened to that person.