What Can You Do With a Degree in Addiction Studies?

A survey in 2016 revealed that 78% of milennials want a career that allows them to have a “purpose” in their work.

A career that includes working with people dealing with addiction may not be the perfect fit for everyone. But, for those that want to help others at some of their lowest points, it can be a very rewarding line of work.

In order to become someone that is capable of helping individuals in these situations, you’ll need a degree in addiction studies.

So, once you finish your education, what types of jobs are out there waiting for you? To find the answer to this question, keep reading below.

Addiction Therapist

This profession goes by many different titles, including drug counselor, alcohol counselor, and substance abuse counselor. However, at the core, the role is identical: offering support to people that have addictions.

In some cases, the addiction therapist may specialize in a specific type of addiction, but the main goals and techniques used remain the same.

The main goal of addiction therapy is to help a person understand their addiction better and work toward recovery. Addiction therapists are also very helpful in coming up with coping tools and maintenance plans for the person to use in their day-to-day lives.

Out of all of the skills that an addiction therapist has, the biggest one is communication. Addiction therapists clearly explain, listen intently, and be empathetic toward their patients. This creates the opportunity to build trust and credibility.

In addition to that, an addiction therapist will need to encourage recovery, even in the face of withdrawal symptoms or environmental factors that make recovery difficult.

Every patient has their own unique circumstances that therapists will need to understand. These other factors also help a therapist set reasonable, strategic goals.

To become an addiction therapist, you need at least a bachelor’s degree. Many people that choose to work in this field will have a master’s degree or a Ph.D. Some states require advanced degrees to be able to do certain types of things as a therapist, so this is worth looking into before you start your program.

Social Worker

If you plan to work in social work, you’re going to come across people that have addiction problems in almost any area. However, you can also specialize in addictions as a substance abuse social worker.

These are professionals that offer similar support to what an addiction therapist may offer, but the role is different.

Instead of offering techniques for recovery or even plans for avoiding relapse, a social worker will offer resources.

In some cases, the social worker will also utilize some counseling strategies, such as psychotherapy or medication interventions. This depends on the state that you’re practicing in and what your specific background as a social worker entails.

When you look at getting a degree in addiction studies, it’s important to know what training you’ll get specifically.

The main goal of a social worker that is working with addicted persons is to minimize harm. In some cases, this means that you will need to connect the person with other services, federal funding, and more.

This is another area of work that you might be able to do with a bachelor’s degree, but many people would have a master’s degree (or higher) to work in this field. The main reason for this is that the training required to do this work well is extensive. If you want to specialize, a more advanced degree is necessary.

Group Counselor

Another role you can have if you want to work with people that have addictions is in a group counseling setting.

Rather than just working with individuals, this person works with several people at the same time to create a support system.

Group counseling is a very important component of addiction treatment because it helps show the person that they are not alone. Other people are dealing with similar situations. This normalizes the addiction and shows that treatment is possible.

In addition to that, group counseling also offers the opportunity to get other types of feedback.

As the group counselor, you’d be in charge of facilitating the group sessions. However, other members can chime in to create a discussion about whatever has come up. This can build strong bonds that are crucial for maintaining recovery.

Some group counselors also see clients individually. If you have a client that you see individually and you want to see how they work with others, a group is a great opportunity to do that.

This helps create an even better system of support and a plan of action for their treatment.

Group counselors usually have a bachelor’s degree, but the requirements vary from state to state. Like the other professions mentioned here, many people choose to get a more advanced degree to learn more about what they can do to support their clients best.

Get Your Degree in Addiction Studies Today

Although a career in this field is not a perfect match for everyone, it can be a really rewarding line of work.

Getting a degree in addiction studies will help you learn more about addiction, how to work with people that need help, and much more. You’ll gain plenty of people skills that will help you in everyday life.

If you’re ready to get a degree in addiction studies that will help you further your career, start researching programs now!

Did you find this article helpful? If so, take a look at some of our other articles next.