How to Become a Substance Abuse Social Worker

You can’t read the headlines without coming across stories covering America’s drug crisis. Substance use disorders affect millions of adults and teens in this country—19.7 million adults and nearly 1 million teens, according to American Addiction Centers. A combination of genetics, environmental factors, age, and mental health disorders all can increase one’s risk of drug use and addiction.

As a substance abuse social worker, your career challenges will be plentiful. While nearly 21 million people need help for their disorder, only 4 million (19 percent) receive treatment. Another staggering fact? The relapse rate for those who receive treatment is 40 to 60 percent.

In other words, you’ll have your work cut out for you as a substance abuse social worker. The need for committed, perseverant professionals who serve those with substance use disorders has never been greater.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• What do substance abuse social workers do?
• Where can substance abuse social workers get jobs?
• Skills needed to be a substance abuse social worker
• Schools with the best programs in substance abuse social work

What do substance abuse social workers do?

What are the duties and responsibilities of substance abuse social workers?

According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) document NASW Standards for Social Work Practice with Clients with Substance Abuse Disorders, the responsibilities of a substance abuse social worker include:

• Assessing clients with substance use disorders to provide diagnoses and treatment plans
• Evaluating the effectiveness of any recommended treatments or interventions
• Keeping client records up-to-date and in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and as outlined by the NASW Code of Ethics
• Managing case workloads, prioritizing work based on client needs
• Being an advocate for clients
• Collaborating with other professionals and organizations; offering leadership skills and expertise
• Undergoing ongoing professional development and maintaining state higher-education requirements

What is it like to be a substance abuse social worker?

In a nutshell: the work is challenging. Many substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors leave the field after only a few years, according to National Institutes of Health study. Mentally prepare for what life might be like on the job with a few key work environment details:

• Many clinical social workers have large caseloads
• Resources can be scarce to get the job done effectively
• Crises are common, as are challenging clients
• Evening and weekend shifts are common for inpatient programs

According to US News & World Report, the job may come with above-average stress and below-average upward mobility. Despite all that, US News rates substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselor the fourth-best social service job in America (behind lawyer, school psychologist, and political scientist). Those who do this job clearly derive some satisfaction from it. It’s likely not the pay: all three of the higher-ranking jobs pay at least 50 percent more.

Where can substance abuse social workers get jobs?

What is the typical career path of a substance abuse social worker?

Your first professional experience in the field may be an internship in substance use disorder services. Seek out this opportunity as an undergrad, or while earning your Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Beyond completing your MSW, you’ll need to earn your social work license. From there, your career growth as a substance abuse social worker will ultimately follow the path you choose, be it working in an outpatient facility, a local government agency, or elsewhere.

Where can substance abuse social workers get jobs?

According to the BLS, the top employers of mental health and substance abuse social workers are:

• Outpatient care centers (22 percent of all jobs)
• Individual and family services (15 percent)
• Local government (not including schools and hospitals) (13 percent)
• Residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities (11 percent)
• Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals (9 percent)

The top-paying employers for social work are:

• Insurance carriers ($65,830 per year)
• Colleges, universities, and professional schools ($59,670)
• Specialty hospitals ($59,500)
• General medical and surgical hospitals ($58,390)
• Offices of other health practitioners ($56,990)

The top states for jobs for clinical social workers in substance abuse are:

• California (13 percent of all jobs)
• New York (10 percent)
• Pennsylvania (7 percent)
• Massachusetts (6 percent)
• Texas (6 percent)

What is the projected job growth for substance abuse social workers?

The broader field of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counseling is expected to grow 22 percent through 2028, nearly four times the rate at which the entire job market should grow over that same period. Some areas where there will be an uptick in demand include:

• States hiring workers to offer mental health services for those who’ve committed drug-related offenses
• Agencies supporting military veterans with substance use disorders
• Rural agencies and organizations, and other such regions underserved by mental health workers

Skills needed to be a substance abuse social worker

According to Baltimore City Community College, an effective substance abuse social work and mental health counseling should have the following skills:

• Communication skills
• Compassion
• Interpersonal skills
• Listening skills
• Patience
• Speaking skills
• Organizational skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Time-management skills

How do you acquire (and maintain) the more tactical skills needed to be a substance abuse social worker? In its NASW Standards for Social Work Practice with Clients with Substance Abuse Disorders, the NASW recommends substance abuse social workers:

• Keep up-to-date on evidence-based approaches treating substance use disorders
• Actively seek out specialized training
• Track any changes to relevant laws and regulations at the federal, state, and local levels

Schools with the best programs in substance abuse social work

What should you study to become a substance abuse social worker?

NASW guidelines recommend that substance abuse social workers should meet these educational and licensing qualifications:

• A graduate degree in social work (MSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Licensure by your state board of social work

To meet these requirements, you’ll first need to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree. A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is not necessarily required; a bachelor’s in any field will suffice, although you may be required to take additional pre-MSW courses before beginning graduate study. You’ll likely need to earn an MSW for most social work jobs, which usually takes an additional two years. There is a fast-track MSW option that can be completed in as little as 16 months.

It is possible to become a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, or mental health counselor without a graduate degree. According to the BLS, the minimum education requirement for this related position is a bachelor’s degree. Some employers may even accept candidates with high school diplomas and certifications. However, an MSW ensures that you will qualify for nearly all positions in this field and will position you best for advancement to positions with more responsibility.

What should you look for in a substance abuse social work program?

If you already know you’d like to specialize in substance abuse, you’ll want to make sure the social work program you choose offers strong foundational coursework, including classes in exploring the dynamics of chemical dependency. Keep in mind that where you study will likely be where you end up doing fieldwork.

MSW programs that offer a focus on substance use disorders include:

• Kennesaw State University
• Loyola University Chicago
• Rutgers University – New Brunswick
• Temple University
• Tulane University
• University of Houston
• University of Maryland – College Park

Additional certifications for substance abuse social workers

No certifications are required to practice substance abuse social work. However, specialized certifications are almost always valuable, as they signal your expertise and commitment to potential employers.

The NASW offers one specialized certification for substance abuse social workers who hold a social work master’s. It’s called the Certified Clinical Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs Social Worker (C-CATODSW). To qualify, you must have:

• 180 contact hours of relevant continuing education
• Two years/3,000 hours of paid, supervised, post-MSW clinical experience in substance use disorder facilities
• State licensure

If you want to become a substance abuse social worker, know this: You’re making a deep commitment to a high-stress job, but one in which you will unquestionably help others desperately in need of your support. The attrition rate tells you this job isn’t for everyone, but if you’re committed to the population you serve and can tolerate the inevitable disappointments you’ll encounter, you might just be one of those substance abuse social workers who thrive in the profession.

Questions or feedback? Email editor@noodle.com