Addiction Counseling Degrees
Individuals whose lives are affected by addiction to alcohol or drugs almost always need outside help to overcome their addiction. Addiction counseling programs prepare students to help these patients identify behavior problems and patterns that led to and perpetuate their addiction and then provide counseling to help patients change these behaviors. Most programs focus on drug and alcohol addiction but some also cover topics such as gambling addiction, nicotine addiction and eating disorders. These programs may also be called substance abuse counseling, alcohol and drug abuse counseling and addictions and chemical dependency counseling.
Job opportunities for addiction counseling program graduates are expected to be very good over the next decade. Greater recognition of addiction problems as well as a trend towards sending drug offenders for addiction treatment rather than to jail are expected to drive up employment in this field.
Degree Options
- Associate's Degree – An associate's degree in addiction counseling will prepare students to work in some human service positions working with addiction patients. In some states, they can become certified or licensed Addiction Counselors.
- Bachelor's Degree – A bachelor's degree will prepare graduates to become certified or licensed Addiction Counselors in many states. Some states allow bachelor's degree holders to work in school settings while others do not.
- Master's Degree – Individuals who earn a master's degree in addiction counseling can become certified or licensed counselors in every state and are qualified for positions in any setting including schools.
- Certificate – Certificate programs in addiction counseling are available to those with a degree in a related field. These programs meet the educational requirements for certification and/or licensure.
Schools
Addiction counseling degree and certificate programs are available at numerous community colleges, universities and four-year colleges including a number of online colleges. These programs are typically offered by the Psychology department or Human Services department. The level of degree a student needs to earn to become a licensed or certified Addiction Counselor varies by state and ranges from an associate's degree to a master's degree.
Coursework
Addiction counseling programs will include courses such as those listed below:
- Substance Abuse Prevention – Focuses on aspects of prevention including prevention programs, risk and protective factors and prevention resources.
- Assessment and Diagnosis – Topics include standardized screening, interviewing skills, assignment of a diagnosis and determination of level of care needed.
- Counseling Alcohol and Drug Addictions – Students learn techniques and skills for counseling patients with addictions.
- Behavior Management and Modification – Theories, principles and techniques related to behavior management are examined and topics such as operant conditioning are discussed.
- Adolescent Assessment and Treatment – Covers topics such as developmental delay, treatment models, patient placement and differences between adult and adolescent treatment.
- Addictions Group Counseling - Develops student's group counseling skills through examination of theories, models and techniques.
Aptitudes and Interests
Those who study addiction counseling need to be patient, compassionate and have a strong desire to help people with addictions. It is also very important that they be emotionally resilient since only about 20 percent of addiction patients succeed in overcoming their addiction and returning to a productive life. Addiction counseling has a high burn-out rate so students may want to make sure their studies are broad enough to enable them to change careers at a later time.
Career Options
Addiction counseling program graduates typically work in the following careers:
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Counselor
- Addictions Counselor
- Human Service Assistant
Related Majors
- Mental Health Counseling - Teaches students how to counsel those with various mental and emotional disorders including addiction.
- Marriage and Family Counseling - Students learn how to counsel children, families and couples with issues that arise in these relationships.
- Social Work - Graduates understand human behavior in a social context, counseling techniques and how to support various types of patients.
- Psychology - This is a broader education which covers individual human behavior, mental disorders and therapy.
How To Evaluate Addiction Counseling Degree Programs
When choosing an addiction counseling program, the following items should be taken into consideration:
- Certification and Licensing – Students need to understand their own state's licensing or certification requirements since the level of degree needed varies from associate's through master's depending upon the state.
- Exam Pass Rates – Exams must be often be passed to earn a state license or certification. A school's pass rate for the specific exam should be researched and taken into consideration.
- Field Experience – A specific number of hours in a field practicum is often a requirement of licensing or certification so the chosen program needs to meet the requirement for the state where the student will work.
- Job Placement - Students may want to determine what services are offered to help students find jobs after graduation and what type of positions past graduates have found.
- Costs - A significant factor for many is the cost of the program. The combination of tuition and expected financial aid should be looked at together to determine the resulting cost to the student.
Resources
NAADAC – The Association for Addiction Professionals
American Mental Health Counselors Association
American Counseling Association
National Board for Certified Counselors
Online Course Finder
Find the path to your
education in 3 easy steps.