Need for a quick solution can develop drug dependency
The habit-forming nature of the drugs increases likelihood of addiction to sedatives because the brain has an incredibly hard time adapting back to natural, unaided sleep. At a young age, I labeled myself as an … It is only a sustainable treatment as …
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Heroin a growing problem in Missouri, nationwide
The Missouri Department of Mental Health reported that 776 people admitted for substance abuse treatment in 1993 cited heroin as the primary drug of abuse. … Some police agencies are taking a more holistic approach to treating the problem. Rather …
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Humble Beginnings in Cherry Hill opens as outpatient addiction facility
Humble Beginnings, a new outpatient drug treatment facility in Cherry Hill, strives to help clients break the cycle of relapse and maintain sobriety through a holistic approach to treatment. Humble Beginnings CEO Joe Lubowitz said the facility provides …
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Leading Addiction Specialist to Meet with Addiction Treatment Professionals in …
Clinical Programme Director Alastair Mordey of The Cabin Chiang Mai, Asia's leading inpatient rehab centre, will be visiting Beijing and Shanghai from the 16-24th April to offer insights into the latest addiction treatment methods practised. Share on …
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Question by Abcn217: AODA counselor degree advice?
Hi there. I want to become an AODA counselor, I was wondering, hopefully for some advice from real AODA counselors, how is the schooling money/studying-wise? Is it worth the job? (Im sure I will find the job more than worthwhile no matter what, I don’t care for money, I want to help people more than anything)

What does the school consist of and how many years should I plan on going?

thanks in advance.

Best answer:

Answer by jannsody
If by AODA counselor, you’re referring to an “alcohol and other drug abuse” counselor, which is most likely similar to the credentials of CAC (certified addiction counselor) or CADC (certified alcohol and drug counselor), then obtaining a master’s degree can make a person more marketable in the field.

It’s great that you’re not considering “addiction counseling” for the money as most don’t enter the field for the salary 🙂 A lot of addiction counselors are “in recovery” (from addiction) themselves, but it’s not a prerequisite.

The substance abuse counseling student needs to get a passing score while completing several clinical fieldwork hours under the supervision of a clinical supervisor and having an actual patient caseload.

This site has more general info re: certification in addiction counseling: http://www.naadac.org/certification

Just an fyi that the social work/counseling (and nursing) field is supposed to have a high burn-out rate.

With regard to schooling, please do *avoid* those private For-profit schools, such as devry, ITT tech, strayer, U of P, capella, regis, argosy, walden, grand canyon, ashworth, full sail, ashford, pima medical, Stratford career, keiser, Everest, penn foster, icdc, Kaplan, art institute, concorde career and others. Their course credits usually do ** NOT ** transfer to other schools, even if the for-profit school is regionally accredited as opposed to only nationally accredited.

General career info: http://www.bls.gov/ooh and can search “substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors”, “social workers”, “counselors” or such.

For U.S. colleges (though, please still forgo those for-profit schools): http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ

This government site has more general info re: “functional qualities and helping skills for AODA counselors and therapists”: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/substabuse/docs/reports/Helpingskills3.pdf

You may want to consider volunteering at a “crisis helpline” of which the volunteer engages in “active listening” (including reflecting feelings) of the caller as opposed to providing counseling or giving advice.

Cherry Hill's Humble Beginnings will serve adult addicts in recovery
Humble Beginnings, a new out-patient drug rehab in Cherry Hill. Wednesday, March 26 … Based on the 12-step program, the center is licensed by the state Department of Human Services to provide outpatient and intensive outpatient substance abuse …
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Eva Hobbs' Battle With Her Son's Mental Illness Ended in Her Bloody Bedroom …
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Cherry Hill's Humble Beginnings will serve adult addicts in recovery
At 25, the Philadelphia resident is launching a new outpatient addiction treatment center this week in Cherry Hill. He points to his own recovery from high school substance abuse as his inspiration for the work. “The sad part is, it's getting to the …
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The Phoenix Recovery Center Opens a New Outpatient Drug and Alcohol …
The Phoenix Recovery Center, providers of individualized rehab treatment programs for individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, announced the grand opening of their newest outpatient rehab facility located in Draper Utah . The new center …
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