Addiction Counseling or Social Work?

Question by krystal_michele: Addiction counseling or social work?
I am torn between going for my masters in addiction counseling or my masters in social work. Right now, I am almost done with my bachelors in sociology. I was pretty set on going for addiction counseling until I learned that you could get an M.S.W. and specialize in addiction. So, I have two questions.

1) What are the pros and cons of these two degree programs?
2) How exactly do you become an addiction specialist after you have an M.S.W?

Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by Kate
The MSW will enable you to do many job titles, including addiction counseling. The addiction counseling will permit you to do just that. The MSW is far more versatile.

How you become an addiction specialist after obtaining your MSW is to work in the field, amass knowlege, and then apply for a certification through either the NASW (National Association of Social Workers) or through your state’s licensing board. For instance, in NY, the designation is CASAC – Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor. For those with a masters in social work, you have already completed most of the educational requirements, and simply need the time on the job.

Make sure when you take your masters in social work that you take electives in addiction and substance use disorder (SUD is the new term – we call it substance use disorder now, now substance ABUSE disorder.)

Also, when you do your field internships, try to get internships in the addictions field. That will give you a head start on your first job after the masters.

Best of luck!

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Darrell Bellaart: Drug policy makes no sense

Filed under: drug addiction news 2010

It's difficult to look at that approach without detecting a hint of hypocrisy, as government locks people up for possession of cannabis, a drug that is not physically addictive, and which has never been associated with a single death. Unless you count …
Read more on Nanaimo Daily News

NY audit finds painkiller prescription errors

Filed under: drug addiction news 2010

The painkillers Oxycodone and Hydrocodone and the sleep drug Ambien accounted for nearly half the drugs auditors found filled 565,000 times in 2010-2011 from prescriptions with errors or inconsistencies. "The abuse of prescription medications has …
Read more on Yahoo! News (blog)

Annual UK drug deaths fall by 14 percent, while deaths related to 'legal highs …

Filed under: drug addiction news 2010

… in cocaine-related deaths observed over several years continued. Overall, drug-related deaths in the UK fell by almost 14 per cent from 2,182 in 2009 to 1,883 in 2010, reveals today's National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (np-SAD) 2011 report.
Read more on Medical Xpress