What You'll Do in a Substance Abuse Counseling Career  Your degree in substance abuse counseling will prepare you to offer individual and group therapy to people in all stages of life. You'll meet with clients, consult with businesses, offer opinions to courts and parole officers, conduct training and awareness classes, and work with clients' family members. While pursuing a private or group practice is a common and lucrative way to use your degree, you may also work in a variety of institutions that hire full-time substance abuse counselors: - Hospitals
- Inpatient therapy programs (individual or group)
- Outpatient treatment centers
- Halfway houses
- Jails and prisons
- Social welfare agencies
- Government service departments
 Why Substance Abuse Counseling is Hot Four million people over the age of 12 received treatment related to the use of alcohol or illicit drugs in 2008.* It's a serious and growing problem in our communities, and the need for qualified substance abuse counselors has kept pace. So if you find yourself thinking, "I need a degree in substance abuse counseling," this is an excellent time to be taking the steps toward starting a vital and rewarding career. Starting an online course for substance abuse counseling will get you on track toward a challenging and rewarding career as a substance abuse counselor. How Long Substance Abuse Counseling Has Been Recognized Substance abuse counseling has been recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1979, though counselors and psychologists were treating substance abuse and addiction in the US for decades prior. Now called simply, "the APA Division on Addictions," it strives to aid advances in research, training and clinical practice regarding the numerous illnesses of addiction that affect Americans today. Why Getting Your Online Degree in Substance Abuse Counseling is Smart Certification requirements for substance abuse counselors vary more than they do for any other counseling specialty, but your master's degree in substance abuse counseling will likely meet many of your state's licensing criteria. A more generalized degree, such as an online master's degree in counseling psychology (with at least one online course for substance abuse counseling), is one way to qualify for your substance abuse counseling licensure and also allows you to keep your options open for working in other counseling areas. Marriage and family therapy, school counseling and educational psychology are all hot career opportunities right now, so it doesn't hurt to get a broad-based education before focusing on a counseling specialization. Perks of a Substance Abuse Counseling Career The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates the number of substance abuse therapists to increase by 21 percent by 2018, making it the second fastest growing counseling field. The BLS found that the 2008 mean annual wage for substance abuse counselors was $39,670. But you can make the most of your salary opportunities by going into private practice or working in a higher paying state such as Florida, Alaska or Hawaii. Elementary and secondary school substance abuse counselors made a significantly higher wage of $61,680, followed by other schools, insurance carriers and research firms. *US Department of Health and Human Services, "2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health"  Red Hot Online Psychology Degrees Home
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