Addiction Counselor Industry Growth
The addiction counselor and substance abuse counselor field has grown by leaps and bounds and is considered one of the fastest growing career fields by the US Government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is no wonder that the field has been growing as the list of addictive substances and activities has grown over the past several decades.
Within the counselor field, projected growth in employment from 2008-2018 is projected to be higher than average especially for the following specialties:
- Mental health counselors: 24%
- Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors: 21%
- Rehabilitation counselors: 19%
Of course, these are national averages and may not reflect regional projections in addiction counselor employment. These projections may turn out to be higher or lower than the national average.
This projected growth is a result of the ever growing awareness of drug and alcohol addiction that has spurred an increase in admissions to rehab centers. Unfortunately, it is also due to the massive increase in prescription drug abuse which similarly has increased the rolls of those in recovery, especially in the younger demographic. The growth in recent years and projected growth over the next decade has led to an ever greater need for qualified and experienced addiction and substance abuse counselors nationwide.
With this growth and demand for qualified individuals comes additional opportunity for career advancement and ever higher salary potential. Learn more about current and projected salaries and earning s of professionals in the addiction, mental health and substance abuse field by clicking on the following link: addiction counselor salary.
Learn More:
Become a Certified Addiction Professional
Become a Certified Addiction Counselor
Become a Certified Addiction Specialist
Become a Certified Behavioral Health Technician
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Counselors, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm (visited September 19, 2011).
