If you are considering a career move into the world of substance abuse counseling, understanding the day-to-day tasks an addiction specialist must handle is an important step in this process. Let’s take a brief look into what you can expect to do each day as a certified addictions professional.
Where Do Addiction Specialists Work?
Addiction specialists work in various settings, reflecting the diverse needs of individuals struggling with addiction. These professionals are crucial in providing care, support, and guidance to individuals seeking to overcome addiction. Here are some of the common facilities where an addiction counselor might work:
- Rehabilitation Centers: These facilities offer inpatient and outpatient programs and are dedicated to helping individuals recover from substance use disorders. Addiction specialists in these settings provide medical care, therapy, and support throughout the detox and recovery process.
- Hospitals & Medical Centers: In these settings, addiction professionals often work in the emergency department or special units dedicated to acute cases of overdose, withdrawal, or other addiction-related medical emergencies.
- Private Practices: Some addiction specialists work in private offices, clinics, or treatment programs providing ongoing outpatient therapy and support for individuals recovering from addiction. They may work alone or as part of a larger group of mental health professionals.
- Community Health Centers: These centers serve broader communities and may offer addiction treatment and support services. Addiction specialists in these settings work to make healthcare accessible to underserved populations.
- Mental Health Clinics: Since addiction often co-occurs with other mental health conditions, many addiction specialists work in mental health clinics where they can collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive health care.
- Correctional Facilities: Addiction specialists within jails or prisons help inmates struggling with addiction and prepare them for a healthier life upon release.
- Residential Care Facilities: These are live-in facilities that provide comprehensive care for individuals, often with more severe cases of addiction. Care may include medical treatment, psychological therapy, wellness activities, and skills-building programs.
- Educational Institutions: Some addiction specialists work in schools or universities, providing resources, counseling, and support to students struggling with addiction.
- Government & Nonprofit Organizations: These specialists might work in various community outreach programs focused on prevention, education, and support for those affected by addiction.
- Research Facilities: Some addiction specialists are involved in research, studying the causes, effects, and treatments of addiction to develop new treatment methods and preventative measures.
Each of these environments offers unique resources and approaches to treatment, catering to the varying degrees and types of addiction individuals face.
Types Of Certified Addiction Specialists
At Sober College of Addiction Studies, we offer a curriculum for those wishing to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or CADC. This is a very common type of addiction specialist and while some individuals choose to remain CADCs throughout their career, there are other options to consider as you gain more experience. (NOTE: CADCs also might be called a LADC or perhaps an ADC, depending on your state.)
For instance, if you have an interest in helping those who are incarcerated, you could work toward becoming a Certified Criminal Justice Professional, or CCJP. This is a person who helps those convicted of crimes overcome their addictions and move toward recovery. You might work with prisoners or perhaps parolees to help them re-enter society with a solid recovery plan in place.
Women’s Treatment Specialist (WTS) is another option to consider, and these professionals focus on the unique needs of women struggling with addiction. For instance, for women with a history of trauma, including domestic abuse, working with a WTS can make the journey toward recovery easier.
Another option might include working as a Prevention Specialist. This professional concentrates on helping people make positive life choices so that they can avoid addiction. You might work with local schools, law enforcement agencies or at a local community center or government agency to educate people on the best ways to stay healthy, both mentally and physically. These are just a few options to consider once you have earned your initial CADC certification.
Day-To-Day Tasks
As an addiction specialist, you typically will handle tasks that are known as the 12 Core Functions of Addiction Counseling. Here’s a quick look at each of these core functions.
Patient Screening – Every treatment facility is unique, and every patient is unique, thus screening is an important first step in determining whether or not your facility is the best match for the needs of each person applying for your program.
Intake – Once it has been determined that a patient is a good match for your facility, there is a plethora of paperwork to handle, and counselors also take this time to share the rules of inpatient facilities or the hours and services provided by an outpatient facility.
Orientation – While this is a bit similar to intake, it dives a bit deeper into what patients should expect during their stay at an inpatient facility or what to expect service-wise from an outpatient facility. The counselor would discuss everything from rules to schedules, etc.
Patient Assessment – While you will do a quick assessment during patient screening, this is a more thorough evaluation where you gather a thorough history of your patient’s drug or alcohol use as well as any co-occurring disorders or physical health conditions they might face and learn a bit about their background and personal life in general.
Treatment Planning – Once you have determined all of the issues facing your client, you can begin creating short-term and long-term treatment plans.
Counseling – When it comes to counseling, most addiction professionals will provide individual, group and perhaps family counseling services, depending on the needs of each client.
Case Management – This task involves ensuring that you have a variety of support systems in place for each client. This might include finding 12-step programs or group homes for patients after they leave your facility, as well as finding therapists and doctors to help manage all of the issues your clients are facing. This may seem like treatment planning, but it’s a step beyond that where a counselor is actively finding resources to support their client.
Crisis Intervention – It is not uncommon for patients to experience a crisis either during treatment or in recovery, and developing a crisis plan can make it easier for the patient to move through the crisis and find a healthier state of mind.
Client Education – It’s helpful for patients to truly understand addiction, how addictions develop and how they affect the body and mind, so this is an important part of the treatment process.
Referral – Because each patient will need support from a variety of providers, you will need to be able to offer a variety of referrals to your clients. This might include a psychiatrist, psychologist, support groups, nutritionists, social services, etc.
Reporting & Record Keeping – Everything you do must be documented and kept organized, so paperwork will be a large part of your job.
Consultation – In many cases, you will need to consult with other professionals to provide the best possible care for your patients/clients.
Start Your CADC Journey
If you would like to become an addiction specialist, Sober College can help you fulfill all of your educational requirements. Our CADC program takes just six months to complete, and we offer NAADAC-approved, CCAPP-approved and IC&RC-approved curriculum. We also offer rolling admissions so you can get started at any time. To apply, simply head to the Get Started tab on our homepage.
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