What Does it Take to Be a Substance Abuse Social Worker?
Occupation Description Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
Substance Abuse Social Worker Responsibilities
- Develop or advise on social policy or assist in community development.
- Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
- Plan or conduct programs to prevent substance abuse, combat social problems, or improve health or counseling services in community.
- Refer patient, client, or family to community resources for housing or treatment to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness, following through to ensure service efficacy.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.
- Collaborate with counselors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.
Featured schools near , edit
Substance Abuse Social Worker Required Skills
When polled, Substance Abuse Social Workers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Community Support Worker
- Chemical Dependency Counselor
- Alcoholism Worker
- Substance Abuse Clinician
- Psychotherapist Social Worker
Job Outlook for Substance Abuse Social Workers
In the United States, there were 123,900 jobs for Substance Abuse Social Worker in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 19.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 24,000 new jobs for Substance Abuse Social Worker by 2026. The BLS estimates 15,900 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Substance Abuse Social Worker are Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Rhode Island, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Substance Abuse Social Worker Make?
The salary for Substance Abuse Social Workers ranges between about $28,310 and $78,910 a year.
Substance Abuse Social Workers who work in New Jersey, District of Columbia, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Substance Abuse Social Workers in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,700 |
| Alaska | $46,420 |
| Arizona | $39,390 |
| Arkansas | $40,560 |
| California | $61,640 |
| Colorado | $46,980 |
| Connecticut | $63,290 |
| Delaware | $50,700 |
| District of Columbia | $69,690 |
| Florida | $44,100 |
| Georgia | $39,600 |
| Hawaii | $67,930 |
| Idaho | $47,720 |
| Illinois | $46,540 |
| Indiana | $43,040 |
| Iowa | $47,580 |
| Kansas | $40,900 |
| Kentucky | $35,600 |
| Louisiana | $40,960 |
| Maine | $56,000 |
| Maryland | $53,780 |
| Massachusetts | $43,270 |
| Michigan | $50,060 |
| Minnesota | $55,460 |
| Mississippi | $41,470 |
| Missouri | $38,880 |
| Montana | $37,950 |
| Nebraska | $41,320 |
| Nevada | $60,540 |
| New Hampshire | $57,110 |
| New Jersey | $79,130 |
| New Mexico | $45,260 |
| New York | $62,130 |
| North Carolina | $50,270 |
| North Dakota | $53,760 |
| Ohio | $44,840 |
| Oklahoma | $37,380 |
| Oregon | $49,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,440 |
| Rhode Island | $52,730 |
| South Carolina | $35,330 |
| South Dakota | $40,330 |
| Tennessee | $38,180 |
| Texas | $40,470 |
| Utah | $45,830 |
| Vermont | $42,620 |
| Virginia | $51,660 |
| Washington | $53,780 |
| West Virginia | $33,880 |
| Wisconsin | $46,730 |
| Wyoming | $49,660 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Substance Abuse Social Workers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Substance Abuse Social Workers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Database software
- Microsoft Publisher
- Scheduling software
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Medical procedure coding software
- Medical condition coding software
- Corel WordPerfect
- Adobe Systems Adobe PageMaker
- Patient electronic medical record EMR software
Becoming a Substance Abuse Social Worker
What kind of Substance Abuse Social Worker requirements are there?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Substance Abuse Social Workers Are Employed
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Substance Abuse Social Worker may also be interested in:
- Nursing Instructors and Professors
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
References:
Image Credit: Army Medicine via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.