How to become a drug addiction counselor?

Question

What do I need to major in? Where are the best colleges for this? And the most important question of all, can you become a counselor if you have a criminal record (mainly with drugs). The thing is I want to help people, because I have been through drug addiction and everything else, so I know how to help people, I just need the certification...

Answer 1

Most of the Health Education/Promotion B.S. degrees offer certificates in addiction counseling.

However, you can also help people by being a peer helper w/o certification.  Look into local places that offer counseling, group therapies, etc.

Best of luck to you!  (PS do u watch intervention? great show)

Answer 2

The best drug addiction counselors are recovering drug addicts, so yes you can be a counselor despite some legal trouble in the past.  As far as college, don't know probably psychology.

Answer 3

its usually a 2 year degree. and there is a major in addiction counseling that some community type colleges offer. as far as being a counsler due to drugs if you have no felonies then your probably fine. and if you got them when you were under 18 then they disappear anyways.

id check with a college and ask them if you can counsel people despite your record.

Answer 4

There's a great article in the source called how to become an addiction counselor. Hope that helps!

Answer 5

My alcohol/substance abuse counselor has a Master's in Social Work. So find a school with a bachelors degree in social work then go for your masters, then you can specialize. If you can't find a school that offers a degree in social work, take sociology and/or psychology.

Answer 6

Major in drug addiction first.