All About Substance Abuse Social Workers

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.

List of Substance Abuse Social Worker Job Duties

• Increase social work knowledge by reviewing current literature, conducting social research, or attending seminars, training workshops, or classes.
• Develop or advise on social policy or assist in community development.
• Collaborate with counselors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.
• Counsel or aid family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting the client or patient.
• 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.
• Plan or conduct programs to prevent substance abuse, combat social problems, or improve health or counseling services in community.

Skills Needed to be a Substance Abuse Social Worker

Below is a list of the skills most Substance Abuse Social Workers say are important on the job.

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.

Types of Substance Abuse Social Worker

• Health Manager
• Addictions Counselor
• Drug Abuse Social Worker
• Crisis Intervention Specialist
• Outpatient Therapist

Substance Abuse Social Worker Job Outlook

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.

Substance Abuse Social Worker Salary

Substance Abuse Social Workers make between $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.

How much do Substance Abuse Social Workers make 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

What Tools & Technology do Substance Abuse Social Workers Use?

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

How to Become a Substance Abuse Social Worker

Are there Substance Abuse Social Workers education requirements?

What work experience do I need to become a Substance Abuse Social Worker?

Where Substance Abuse Social Workers Are Employed

Below are examples of industries where Substance Abuse Social Workers work:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

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:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Army Medicine via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia

More about our data sources and methodologies.