What Do Addiction Social Workers Do?
With nearly nine percent of the United States population struggling with some form of substance abuse, social work specializing in addiction play an extremely important role in today’s society. Ideal candidates for these positions should have a very strong interest in both counseling services and behavioral sciences. In addition, substance abuse counselors work with a firm understanding of human ethics and be strongly dedicated to helping others.
Day in the Life of an Addiction Social Worker
The responsibilities of addiction clinical social work are extremely varied and they must often complete a number of different tasks on a daily basis. While every position is a little different, some of the most common duties include:
Licensed substance abuse social workers also have a clear understanding of what addiction really is: a disease. They know, for example, that a person does not choose to become addicted to a substance or behavior. Addiction doesn’t result because of a lack of willpower or a poor sense of right and wrong. It’s an indiscriminant, chronic, relapsing brain disease that results in an overwhelming craving for, and inability to regulate indulgence in, a particular substance or behavior. Over time, the brain of an addict actually changes. Professionals specializing in substance abuse understand that changing it back can’t happen overnight, no matter how much a person may want it to.
Although drugs and alcohol make up a significant portion of the country’s substance abuse problem, there are many other types of addiction. People are capable of becoming addicted to materials and/or behaviors, both of which a substance abuse counselor must learn to recognize and treat. Some of the most common substances and activities than can result in compulsive behavior and dependency are:
While substance abuse may be their primary concentration, people in clinical social work are typically extensively trained in pharmacology, individual counseling, and group counseling techniques. This is, in large part, due to the fact that many substance abuse disorders go hand-in-hand with mental disorders. In fact, a significant portion of those diagnosed with addiction are also diagnosed with some form of mental illness.
Integrated Treatment Models and Social Workers
According to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2014, roughly 43.6 million Americans age 18 years and older were diagnosed with a mental disorder and about 20.2 million others were diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder. Of these, nearly 7.9 million were found to suffer from co-occurring disorders. Research has shown that integrated treatment models are most successful when working with dual diagnosis patients. To ensure the best possible chance of recovery and/or symptom maintenance in these cases, it’s absolutely imperative that people in clinical social work have the skills necessary to accurately identify and address both conditions simultaneously.
Working in licensed addiction social work isn’t always an easy profession. In fact, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) projects that the prevalence of social work education will decrease by two percent before the year 2025. Attrition, likely due to a difficult and emotionally charged work environment, will outpace the addition of newly trained professionals in the field. Those best-suited to work in social work can generally:
What is a Master of Social Work (MSW)?
While some positions only require a general bachelor’s degree, some require an advanced standing. Going through a master's in social work (MSW) program with specialization in addiction is ideal if you want to find a more advanced standing in the field. In addition to more professional opportunities, you’re also likely to receive higher pay. Further, completing a MSW program is generally recommended if you plan to apply for certification in your state. Not every state university requires advanced standing education of this level, but a significant number of states will not permit you practice without a master’s in social work degree. Graduate students need to find the state’s specific certification requirements and process before selecting a master's in social work program.
Benefits of an MSW with specialization in addiction include
Every state university general MSW program is different, but most consist of 30 to 60 credit hours. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is often necessary for admittance and completion time is usually around two years. This can take longer, however, if additional prerequisite courses must be taken prior to beginning the program. “Fast track” options may also be available for graduate students with advanced standing. Some of the most common course content includes:
Picking the right MSW program is important, especially if graduate students plan to pursue advanced standing certification in the state. It’s best not to rush the decision as you consider your options. Make sure you carefully research your state university factors like cost, completion timeframe, course selection, and required prerequisites. A program’s accreditation status is also important, as it can greatly impact your ability to transfer credits in the future. Some states do not recognize institutions that are not properly accredited, so it’s absolutely imperative you become familiar with the certification requirements where you live before selecting an MSW program.
If graduate students prefer a college online program, they can get an online master of social work education. An online msw program can provide you with the same level of education as an in person degree in social work practice. The benefit of taking online msw programs is that generally you will have a more flexible schedule and this could allow you to work part time as you study social work online. Another benefit of online msw programs is the option to attend a better state university. You should do your research to make sure that your state university offers a cswe accredited online msw. Many colleges will offer online programs but it is important to make sure you are only considering accredited online msw programs.
Job Prospects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, graduate students in mental health and substance abuse social work can expect to see employment growth of 19 percent before the year 2026. Compared to other occupations, this average rate of employment growth is much faster. This is likely due to projections that indicate an increase in the number of people seeking treatment for substance abuse and mental disorders. Additionally, it’s becoming more and more common for drug offenders to be provided with addiction treatment services instead of being sent to prison. This isn’t only more effective at decreasing substance abuse, it’s also more cost efficient. As many of these social work programs are open to students and are staffed by licensed social workers, an increase in employment demand is expected.
It’s also important to note that of the 22.7 million Americans that should be receiving treatment for addiction, only about 2.5 million of them actually get it. The number of individuals left untreated is staggering and, in part, due to a lack of available and qualified social work.
Need for Addiction Social Workers
Additionally, the HRSA projects that there will soon be a greater need for social work specializing in substance abuse. Their findings indicate there will be a 14 percent increase in demand for these services by the year 2025. HRSA’s report also predicts that there will be two percent fewer mental health and substance abuse social work jobs by that same year. Within just a few short years, the demand for addiction services will likely exceed the supply of qualified healthcare professionals, resulting in a deficit within the field.
All of these factors indicate that pursuing a career in addiction social work is a wise decision. There are likely to be many good job opportunities within the field, especially in the coming years. While many industries employ social workers specializing in substance abuse, some of the most common employers are:
Salary Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook reported that social workers made a median wage of $23.07 per hour, or a median salary of $47,980 in 2017. Mental health and substance abuse social workers, however, tended to fall a little short of this number, with a reported median salary of $43,250. The bottom 10 percent of those working within the field made less than $29,560, whereas those in the upper advanced standing 10 percent had earnings around $79,740.
It’s important to realize that salaries vary drastically depending on experience, location, and job setting. There are a number of different industries that utilize social workers, including hospitals, ambulatory service providers, the government, and individual and family service providers. Of these, hospitals at the state, local, and private level were the highest paying. Social workers in this industry received a median annual wage of $58,490. Local government was the second highest paying industry, with a median salary of $52,900. The lowest paying industry, individual and family services, only provided a median wage of $40,800.
It’s worth noting that individual and family services accounts for the largest percentage of social worker employment. This industry employs 18 percent of social workers, whereas hospitals employ only 12 percent of professionals in the field.
Pay is also heavily dependent upon location. The states with the highest annual mean wage for mental health and substance abuse social workers in 2017 were:
On the other hand, the states that paid mental health and substance abuse social workers the least included:
Work Environment
Because there are so many potential social work practice employers, individuals in this profession tend to work in a wide variety of settings. While most will have, and commonly work in, an office, it’s not uncommon for social workers to travel to meet with patients. State university social workers, in particular, may have to split their time between a number of different schools within a district. In some cases, however, counseling services are administered remotely using videoconferencing or mobile technology.
Most social workers hold full time positions that require evening, weekend, and holiday hours. As client crises can occur at any time, they are often on call and must be available to address problems when they arise. Taking on larger caseloads due to understaffing often results in less personal time, which can become particularly stressful.