All About Substance Abuse Counselors

Substance abuse counselors also known as addiction counselors help people who have problems associated with alcohol and other drugs. They counsel addicts and those who are afraid that they might become addicts. They also assist addicts who had taken drugs previously. They counsel the families, friends, and loved ones of addicts, whose lives are unavoidably affected by the problem constantly.
Addiction counselors usually deal with practical problems. For example, a counselor might cooperate a former addict to find a job. Generally, counselors do not prescribe medicine or give medical or psychological therapy. Doctors, psychologists, or social workers regularly supervise substance abuse counselors.

Some of these counselors work partially from houses, where addicts live during the time treatment. Counselors sometimes work in outpatient clinics where people come for treatment on regular basis. Other counselors work or offer their services in hospitals, treatment centers, or human service agencies. Sometimes these counselors are former substance or drug abusers themselves who have experienced from their mistakes and are intended to help others. Substance abuse counselors conduct counseling sessions for one person or for a group of people. At these sessions counselors try to influence addicts talk about, understand, and cope with their problems.