• As drug abuse grows, the need for good counselors does too.drug abuse image by Keith Frith from Fotolia.com
  
  It takes a certain type of person to be a good substance abuse counselor. In fact, you have to really care about people and improving their lives, even when they may not want you to. Not only do you need excellent communication skills, you must also possess the ability to work in a high-stress environment while retaining your abilities to think quickly, strategically and compassionately all at once.
  
  

Work Setting

• Substance abuse counselors are needed in a variety of settings. Some work in hospitals while others in halfway houses or rehab clinics and the like. Substance abuse counselors work in either inpatient facilities, where the drug abuser lives where they are treated; or outpatient centers, where abusers come in but leave after counseling or treatment. While the specifics may change depending on a counselor's workplace, the overall job duties remain the same across the board.
  
  

Overall Objective

• The overall job duty and objective of a substance abuse worker is to counsel current or recovering drug addicts and alcoholics through various methods in an attempt to rid them of their problem. This is done through unique recovery plans individualized for each patient's specific problem and needs. They also provide the support needed to help their patients reintegrate themselves back into the community once they become clean. Though it's usually optional, many counselors choose to further their education and training while they work to keep up on advanced and newly emerging practices and approaches as well as to advance their career if they so choose.
  
  

Working with Families

• Substance abuse counselors will often work, not only with the patients themselves, but their families too. One of the best tools a counselor can use is support. Getting the family involved will both show the patient they are cared for and loved, as well as educate the family on how to best handle the stresses the patient is going through. The counselor also needs to watch for and put an end to any enabling behavior, whether intentional or otherwise. As a substance abuse counselor you must fully understand how the addiction is affecting the patient as well as those close to them.
  
  

Hours

• Depending on the setting in which the substance abuse counselor works, their hours can vary greatly. While the typical week in this position extends through five days and 40 hours on the job, you may be on call or work varying hours each week due to the nature of the profession. Also, because some treatment facilities are open 24 hours a day, you may end up working swing or night shifts.
  
  

Prevention

• This position may also require you to get out into the community to spread awareness about the woes of substance abuse. Substance abuse counselors will often work with schools and other youth programs with the aim of helping to prevent addiction through proper education on the subject.