About SubstanceAbuseCounselor.org
About SubstanceAbuseCounselor.org
It’s not hard to see that substance use disorders and the fallout from the lives impacted represents one of the great challenges to modern American society. Doing something about it is where the real difficulty lies.
The team behind SubstanceAbuseCounselor.org is stepping up to meet the social obligation to help. And we’re doing it in the best way we know how — through education.
Education is the secret to building a substance use disorder (SUD) treatment workforce that is equal to the massive task of overcoming America’s addiction crisis.
What You’ll Get from SubstanceAbuseCounselor.org
Getting into the field is going to lead you to a certificate or degree program covering the nuances of effective counseling and other interventions. But before you can get there, you need a resource to show you the way.
SubstanceAbuseCounselor.org provides straightforward guidance on your options for learning the healing art and science behind substance use disorder counseling, what roles you can play in providing that treatment, and how to navigate the sometimes-complex process of becoming certified and licensed to practice in your state.
You’ll find everything you need in the pages of this website to be able to serve as the compassionate, sober voice patients need to get them through their journey to recovery.
What You’ll Find Here
Education is the secret to building a substance use disorder (SUD) treatment workforce that is equal to the massive task of overcoming America’s addiction crisis.
How Our Content Is Made
We rely on primary sources wherever we can. Certification and licensing information is checked against each state’s certification or licensing board, credential standards against NAADAC and IC&RC, and salary and job outlook figures against U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors.
We use AI tools to help draft and update articles, working only from that approved set of sources. Before anything is published, a person on our editorial team fact-checks it, including every statistic, requirement, program detail and date. Requirements vary by state and change often, so always confirm the current rules with your state’s certification board.
The Contributors and Content Creators that Made this Project Possible
Anybody affected by addiction knows that recovery is only possible through personal accountability. But nobody can do it alone. Getting into the field of substance abuse counseling is no different.
Our goal is to give you the tools and guidance you need to chart your own course into the field.
SubstanceAbuseCounselor.org is the result of a lot of hard work from a team of writers and editors dedicated to helping people just like you achieve the noble goal of helping people live the lives they deserve.
Rebecca Turley
Rebecca is a full-time writer and editor with a BA in Journalism and Communications. Her career highlights include ghostwriting several published books, editing for a national book publishing company, and writing for many high-profile websites and blogs aimed at the education, healthcare, and social sciences fields.
Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson is a freelance writer based in the Pacific Northwest. He earned a bachelor of arts in English from the University of Washington in 1999 and has a background in information technology. He lives on a sailboat and spends his summers cruising the Salish Sea.
Justin Turley
Justin is a writer specializing in clear, concise communication. His experience ranges from revising complex technical documentation to crafting persuasive marketing content. With a BA in English, Justin tailors his writing to meet the specific needs of each project and audience.
Sam Medley
Sam is a freelance writer with a passion for learning about any and everything he can. When not reading or writing, he can be found helping his wife tend to the bees, ducks, chickens, and plants that populate their little Kentucky homestead.
Editorial Standards
Everything we publish follows our editorial standards: where our facts come from, how we use AI, and how each article is fact-checked by a person before it’s published.
If you find something that looks outdated, tell us. Reach us at [email protected].
Not sure where to start? Our guide to becoming a substance abuse counselor walks through every step, and our certification vs. licensure explainer covers the credentials you’ll need.
Find Substance Abuse Counseling Programs
Rebecca Turley
Rebecca is a full-time writer and editor with a BA in Journalism and Communications. Her career highlights include ghostwriting several published books, editing for a national book publishing company, and writing for many high-profile websites and blogs aimed at the education, healthcare, and social sciences fields.
Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson is a freelance writer based in the Pacific Northwest. He earned a bachelor of arts in English from the University of Washington in 1999 and has a background in information technology. He lives on a sailboat and spends his summers cruising the Salish Sea.
Justin Turley
Justin is a writer specializing in clear, concise communication. His experience ranges from revising complex technical documentation to crafting persuasive marketing content. With a BA in English, Justin tailors his writing to meet the specific needs of each project and audience.
Sam Medley
Sam is a freelance writer with a passion for learning about any and everything he can. When not reading or writing, he can be found helping his wife tend to the bees, ducks, chickens, and plants that populate their little Kentucky homestead.