If you’re a compassionate person who loves helping people and is interested in the process of addiction recovery, a career in drug rehabilitation services may be for you. Whether you’re motivated by the struggles of someone you know or are simply intrigued by the science of addiction, working in this career can be both challenging and rewarding. 

In this industry, you’ll be able to help children, teens, adults and even entire families make progress on the journey to sobriety. In doing so, you can positively impact a significant portion of the American population. As of 2017, 19.7 million people over the age of 12 struggled with substance abuse, and 8.5 million adults suffered from both mental health and substance abuse disorders. Besides ruining or taking lives, addiction costs Americans over $740 billion each year in lost work productivity as well as healthcare- and crime-related costs.

Students who plan to pursue careers in drug rehabilitation services will need to start with a related bachelor’s degree in addiction and substance abuse or substance abuse counseling. Related degree programs include a wide range of related course subjects, which may include:

• Abnormal psychology
• Addiction and substance abuse counseling theories
• Assessment and diagnosis of addiction and substance abuse
• Ethical and legal issues In counseling
• Intergroup relations
• Methods of counseling
• Principles of addictions counseling
• Study of alcohol use and addiction
• Study of drug use and addiction

Careers in Drug Rehabilitation Services

Graduates in this field may pursue careers in a wide variety of capacities. Some of these include:

• Addiction specialist/substance abuse counselor
• Clinical director
• Clinical therapist
• Coordinated care provider
• Licensed mental health counselor
• Marriage and family therapist
• Medical director
• On-call healthcare worker
• Psychologist
• Psychiatrist
• Teletherapist

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How To Prepare for Success

In order to be successful, students in drug rehabilitation services should have an interest in human behavior, compassion for others, group leadership and public speaking skills, and resourcefulness in seeking solutions and services.

Schools To Consider

Most careers within the field of drug rehabilitation require a master’s or doctorate degree. It may be possible to get an entry-level role requiring an associate’s degree, which should be in health science, mental health counseling or nursing. These UNCF-member schools offer graduate programs related to drug rehabilitation services:

• Clark Atlanta University
• Fisk University
• Morehouse College
• Xavier University of Louisiana

Professional Organizations

There are a number of drug rehabilitation services organizations that can provide more insight into this discipline:

• American Psychological Association (APA) and its Division 50: Society of Addiction Psychology
• American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAD)
• National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP)
• American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
• National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)
• The National Institutes of Health
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (IAAOC)

Certificate programs associated with drug rehabilitation services include:

• National Certified Addiction Counselor (NCAC I or NCAC II)
• Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)
• Nicotine Dependence Specialist (NDS)
• National Certified Adolescent Addictions Counselor (NCAAC)
• National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS)

Scholarships Available

Several scholarships are available through UNCF. The UNCF General Scholarship Awards are an excellent opportunity for any student going to a UNCF-member college, regardless of their major. The Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Scholarship Program awards a $10,000 scholarship to one exceptional HBCU senior each year who has demonstrated high academic achievement, strong leadership skills, commitment to community service and unmet financial need.

Keep an eye on the UNCF website for current scholarship opportunities. Students should also check with each college or university to see if there are additional scholarships available to study drug rehabilitation.

Reach out for guidance by submitting a major interest form if you are interested in a career in drug rehabilitation services. Submit the form on our website to get started. And follow us on UNCF social media channels to receive notifications about our scholarships and member HBCUs. Reach out today!