All About Substance Abuse Social Workers
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.
Life As a Substance Abuse Social Worker: What Do They Do?
- Develop or advise on social policy or assist in community development.
- Plan or conduct programs to prevent substance abuse, combat social problems, or improve health or counseling services in community.
- Counsel or aid family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting the client or patient.
- Modify treatment plans according to changes in client status.
- Increase social work knowledge by reviewing current literature, conducting social research, or attending seminars, training workshops, or classes.
- Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.
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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 Jobs
- Drug Abuse Worker
- Mental Health Practitioner
- Outpatient Therapist
- Case Therapist
- Chemical Dependency Counselor
Job Demand 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.
What is the Average Salary of a Substance Abuse Social Worker
The typical yearly salary for Substance Abuse Social Workers is somewhere between $28,310 and $78,910.
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 do I Become a Substance Abuse Social Worker?
What education or degrees do I need to become a Substance Abuse Social Worker?
What work experience do I need to become a Substance Abuse Social Worker?
Where Substance Abuse Social Workers Work
Substance Abuse Social Workers work in the following industries:
You May Also 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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