Did you know that around 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, but only 10% of them receive treatment? Someone who wants to help those with an addiction problem understands the importance of treatment.
How can you be on-hands with the addiction recovery process to help others? One way is by becoming a substance abuse counselor. Read on to learn the benefits of this job.
Learning New Things
As a substance abuse counselor, you have a responsibility to learn new things about the field. Like other career paths, this one is ever-changing.
A drug addiction counselor helps change harmful patterns by using different therapies. Knowing all of the types of therapies out there to pair it will the right person is key.
If you are into learning new things, like approaches to the substance abuse field, this path could be right for you.
Preventing Relapse
Substance abuse careers exist to help those with addiction problems get clean and avoid relapse. You’ll be the first contact when a past user feels the urge to use drugs again.
Preventing relapse takes time and dedication to your patients, but the outcome is very fulfilling.
Offering Additional Advice
Substance abuse jobs aren’t only available to help addicts with advice regarding their addiction. There is additional advice that a counselor can offer their patients.
A substance abuse counselor is a specialized therapist that can aid someone with repairing relationships as well. Drug abuse often harms or destroys relationships.
A drug addiction counselor advises the user to repair broken relationships as it can help with the recovery process. You’ll also be the person to help an addict create new and healthy relationships.
Helping Others
Perhaps the biggest advantage of becoming a substance abuse counselor is helping others each day. For many, a fulfilling career is the biggest factor when it comes to job satisfaction.
Not sure how you’ll be helping others specifically when you take on the role of a substance abuse counselor? Here’s what you’ll be doing during a typical counseling session:
- Teach how choices can affect family, employers, and themselves
- Assess addict propensities toward drug and alcohol abuse
- Help users understand the consequences of continuing drug or alcohol abuse
- Teach about how the misuse of drugs and alcohol can affect the brain (perception and thinking)
- Teach life and coping skills
- Teach communication with others
- Help develop goals for the short and long term
To learn how to do these things professionally, you can study to receive an addiction studies degree at intercoast.edu.
Whether you work in a drug rehab center or have your own counseling business, these responsibilities are how you will help others get better and be better.
Do You Want a Career as a Substance Abuse Counselor?
There are many benefits of becoming a substance abuse counselor that make it a fulfilling career for many. All of the benefits fall under the major advantage of this job which is helping others.
Being an addiction counselor isn’t easy and requires someone with professional and emotional qualities.
If you don’t think this career path is right for you, check out our other articles that can help you find your dream job.
