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A person may suffer from different addictions. One such addiction is of drugs and alcohol. It has emerged as a worldwide phenomenon and everywhere government and specialists are trying to handle this huge problem. Dependency on drugs and alcohol is unfortunately increasing in a big way. Only substance abuse counselors can help addicted people in kicking this problem. Professional help is provided by the counselors that help addicted people to overcome their addictions and lead a better life. The rapidly increasing use of drugs and alcohol has wreaked havoc in many households. There are millions of people with alcohol, drugs, nicotine and other related drugs addiction. Both developed and developing countries are equally afflicted with this issue. These people require urgent help.
Substance abuse counselors are highly trained professionals who meet with clients individually or in groups and try to find the root causes of patients' addictions and come up with treatment plans to quit using drugs and alcohol. A drug counselor works with families of the parents to help manage the issues caused by addiction. The role of a substance abuse counselor is very important in our society.
Usually drug and alcohol counselors have at least a bachelor degree. Though, job opportunities come easier to those who have acquired a master degree. The course curriculum for a drug and alcohol program is quite extensive. One will also need to go through supervised clinical experience in this field. On the job training plays a vital role in this career. This is a continuously emerging field where new researches on treatment and therapy are quite common. Before one could commence offering drug and alcohol counseling services to public, he/she will need to get appropriate license the requirements of which vary from place to place. However, the basic requirements include completion of a master degree in drug and alcohol counseling, at least 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. Additionally, one has to clear state examination and should abide by the ethical codes and standards of this profession.
There is huge demand for drug and alcohol counselors in many parts of the world. More and more people are seeking treatment for drug and alcohol related treatments. Increased awareness of addiction will further drive the requirements for qualified professionals in this field. Substance abuse counselors can work in state and community departments, homeless shelters, jails and prisons, social welfare agencies, private patient therapy, drug and alcohol treatment centers etc.
As mentioned above, substance abuse counseling is a popular career choice for those pursuing psychology/psychiatry. In India, several students study psychology and later on specialize in drugs and alcohol abuse at higher level. Most of the counselors in this field are having master’s or doctorate degrees. The course curriculum covers specific topics like addiction, psychology, and the chemistry of drug and alcohol dependence etc.
Some of the premier institutions offering courses in substance abuse counseling are:-
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat
Panjab University, Chandigarh
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
NCERT, Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar and Mysore
University of Bombay, Mumbai
Karnataka University, Dharwad, Karnataka
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