What Do Substance Abuse Social Worker Do?
Job Description & Duties Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
Life As a Substance Abuse Social Worker
- Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.
- Counsel or aid family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting the client or patient.
- Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
- Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.
- Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse, medication, or available community resources.
- Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.
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Things a Substance Abuse Social Worker Should Know How to Do
When polled, Substance Abuse Social Workers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Other Substance Abuse Social Worker Job Titles
- Direct Service Provider
- Psychotherapist Social Worker
- Outpatient Therapist
- Community Mental Health Social Worker
- Case Manager
Is There Job Demand for Substance Abuse Social Workers?
In the United States, there were 123,900 jobs for Substance Abuse Social Worker in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 19.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 24,000 new jobs for Substance Abuse Social Worker by 2026. There will be an estimated 15,900 positions for Substance Abuse Social Worker per year.
The states with the most job growth for Substance Abuse Social Worker are Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Rhode Island, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Substance Abuse Social Worker Salary
The average yearly salary of a Substance Abuse Social Worker ranges between $28,310 and $78,910.
Substance Abuse Social Workers who work in New Jersey, District of Columbia, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Substance Abuse Social Workers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,700 |
| Alaska | $46,420 |
| Arizona | $39,390 |
| Arkansas | $40,560 |
| California | $61,640 |
| Colorado | $46,980 |
| Connecticut | $63,290 |
| Delaware | $50,700 |
| District of Columbia | $69,690 |
| Florida | $44,100 |
| Georgia | $39,600 |
| Hawaii | $67,930 |
| Idaho | $47,720 |
| Illinois | $46,540 |
| Indiana | $43,040 |
| Iowa | $47,580 |
| Kansas | $40,900 |
| Kentucky | $35,600 |
| Louisiana | $40,960 |
| Maine | $56,000 |
| Maryland | $53,780 |
| Massachusetts | $43,270 |
| Michigan | $50,060 |
| Minnesota | $55,460 |
| Mississippi | $41,470 |
| Missouri | $38,880 |
| Montana | $37,950 |
| Nebraska | $41,320 |
| Nevada | $60,540 |
| New Hampshire | $57,110 |
| New Jersey | $79,130 |
| New Mexico | $45,260 |
| New York | $62,130 |
| North Carolina | $50,270 |
| North Dakota | $53,760 |
| Ohio | $44,840 |
| Oklahoma | $37,380 |
| Oregon | $49,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,440 |
| Rhode Island | $52,730 |
| South Carolina | $35,330 |
| South Dakota | $40,330 |
| Tennessee | $38,180 |
| Texas | $40,470 |
| Utah | $45,830 |
| Vermont | $42,620 |
| Virginia | $51,660 |
| Washington | $53,780 |
| West Virginia | $33,880 |
| Wisconsin | $46,730 |
| Wyoming | $49,660 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Substance Abuse Social Workers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Substance Abuse Social Workers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Database software
- Microsoft Publisher
- Scheduling software
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Medical procedure coding software
- Medical condition coding software
- Corel WordPerfect
- Adobe Systems Adobe PageMaker
- Patient electronic medical record EMR software
How do I Become a Substance Abuse Social Worker?
Are there Substance Abuse Social Workers education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Substance Abuse Social Worker?
Who Employs Substance Abuse Social Workers?
The table below shows the approximate number of Substance Abuse Social Workers employed by various industries.
Related Careers
Those interested in being a Substance Abuse Social Worker may also be interested in:
- Nursing Instructors and Professors
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
References:
Image Credit: Army Medicine via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia
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