Brief Historical Review of the Development of a Substance Abuse Social Worker

Substance abuse social workers play an essential role in helping individuals facing addictions recover or supporting customs advancement programs that reduce the portion of the population abusing substances. This is a circuitous and demanding branch of social work, but information technology is also increasingly necessary as the U.South. faces numerous challenges regarding drug and alcohol consumption.

The Opioid Crunch

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention performed a major study of deaths related to drug use in the U.South., tracking statistics from 1999 through 2016. The results pointed to a widespread and big-calibration opioid problem that impacts a meaning portion of the country. More 630,000 people died as a result of a drug overdose during this fourth dimension catamenia. Of those deaths, approximately 66 pct involved the employ of an opioid.

According to the study, the number of deaths associated with natural and semi-synthetic opioids has increased gradually from 1999 to 2016. This coincides with the beginning of a rise in deaths related to prescription drug overdoses. Deaths related to heroin overdoses increased sharply from 2010 to 2016, and deaths from synthetic opioids rose even faster. In 2013, constructed opioids significantly trailed heroin and natural opioids in the number of deaths. By 2016, constructed opioids became much more prevalent in overdose deaths than the others.

All told, the number of overdose deaths associated with opioids in 2016 was 5 times higher than it was in 1999.

Alcohol Abuse

Tracking booze abuse beyond the entire population is challenging, but identifying and monitoring signs of alcohol corruption is more viable. One of those signs is binge drinking. While this exercise is not every bit deadly as opioid use, it is much more than widespread. The CDC found that approximately 1 out of vi U.S. adults binge drinkable four times per calendar month. Based on data from the 2015 Youth Take chances Behavior Survey and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, approximately 17.seven percent of high school students (grades nine-12) rampage drink, with that figure climbing to more than than 25 percent for adults aged 18 to 34. At that place's a gradual decline when looking at older population groups, but it'south clear that binging is a widespread event.

The challenges in preventing and treating substance abuse are manifold, with addiction and corruption coming from a wide range of sources and population groups. The large scale and high complexity of the issue makes social work peculiarly important.

What it'southward Like to Piece of work as a Substance Abuse Counselor

According to SocialWorkLicensure.org, social workers interacting with individuals with substance abuse problems also often end upwardly working as mental health counselors, as at that place is a strong correlation between the ii. For example, incidents of substance abuse are much higher than normal amidst the population of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Furthermore, individuals coping with some form of trauma oftentimes end up at college risk of drug or alcohol abuse, creating some other link between mental wellness and substance corruption.

The potent correlation between mental wellness and substance abuse has created a state of affairs in which social workers in the sector oft serve as counselors. Doing so requires a master's in social work, as land licensure bodies well-nigh exclusively require individuals to hold an MSW or comparable degree when condign a licensed advisor. The Social Work Licensure study highlighted that social workers who provide some counseling or support under the supervision of licensed clinicians can do then without certification, but anybody hoping to work independently every bit a counselor will need to get certified.

The twenty-four hour period-to-day work often involves diagnosing mental health weather condition, providing or advocating for integrated dual disorders treatment, and ensuring a long-term chain of intendance, the report said. In many cases, pharmacological solutions for mental wellness issues tin lead to a rapid stabilization of patients, simply it is up to social workers to provide the counseling and ongoing support to help individuals cope with their challenges and sustain long-term intervention as needed.

Because counseling is such a major component of this job, information technology isn't surprising that outpatient care centers are the about prominent location for mental wellness and substance abuse social worker jobs. According to the U.Due south. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 25,140 social workers are employed in outpatient care centers, making information technology the single most prominent destination for professionals in the sector. Private and family services centers are the second almost common work location, with 17,100 social work professionals employed in such settings. Other prominent piece of work locales for mental health and substance abuse social workers include:

• Residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental wellness, and substance abuse facilities
• Local government, excluding schools and hospitals
• Psychiatric and substance corruption hospitals

Condign a Clinical Social Worker

In that location are many reasons to want to work with those working through substance abuse challenges. Whether you desire to help with the macro issues facing the nation or are drawn to the profession due to more than personal experiences, or perhaps a bit of both, developing skills in clinical social work is essential. The online MSW program at Regis Higher specializes in clinical social work, with our curriculum focused on preparing students to work as counselors and emphasizing evidence-based care models.

Our program is designed for flexibility. It features:

• Three beginning times and then you can boot off your MSW studies without also long a await
• Provisions for students to carry transfer credits into the program
• An awarding procedure that doesn't crave the GRE
• A flexible schedule that lets yous consummate your coursework in as few equally eight semesters

Want to learn more well-nigh how the RC MSW can help you prepare for substance abuse social work? Contact us today, and we'll put you in bear upon with detailed resources and an enrollment counselor to assistance yous go to know u.s.a. better.

Recommended Readings:

What's the difference between an MSW and MPH?

MSW or Criminal Justice: Which degree if you want to work in corrections?

Sources:

Understanding the Epidemic by the Centers of Disease Command and Prevention

Fact Sheets – Binge Drinking by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers by Social Work Licensure

Occupational Employment Statistics: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers by the U.Due south. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Source: https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/look-substance-abuse-social-workers/

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