What is a Substance Abuse Social Worker?
Substance Abuse Social Worker Definition 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.
Daily Life Of a Substance Abuse Social Worker
- Plan or conduct programs to prevent substance abuse, combat social problems, or improve health or counseling services in community.
- Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse, medication, or available community resources.
- Counsel or aid family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting the client or patient.
- 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.
- Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.
Substance Abuse Social Worker 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.
Types of Substance Abuse Social Worker
- Clinician
- Community Mental Health Social Worker
- Psychotherapist
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Mental Health Practitioner
Are There Job Opportunities for Substance Abuse Social Workers?
There were about 123,900 jobs for Substance Abuse Social Worker in 2016 (in the United States). 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. There will be an estimated 15,900 positions for Substance Abuse Social Worker per year.
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.
Average Substance Abuse Social Workers 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.
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
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Substance Abuse Social Workers:
- 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 do I Become a Substance Abuse Social Worker?
Individuals working as a Substance Abuse Social Worker have obtained the following education levels:
What work experience do I need to become a Substance Abuse Social Worker?
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.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Substance Abuse Social Worker might also be interested in the following careers:
- 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
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