Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors

Employment of alcohol and drug abuse counselors is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2032, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. More people were seeking treatment for both mental health problems and addiction issues during the mid-2020s, and counselors were needed to satisfy this demand.

Many factors are fueling demand for counselors. According to a 2024 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism report, 10.5 percent of those over age 12 (29.5 million people) had alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2022. Among adults over age 18, 11.2% (28.8 million) had AUD. Citing findings from the National Survey on Drug Use in a March 2024 article, USA Today reported that 70 million Americans (25% of the population) admitted to using illicit drugs.

Because no successful method to significantly reduce drug and alcohol abuse has emerged, these numbers are not likely to decrease. As people become more informed about the benefits and options available to them through counseling, this career should be in high demand. Overall population growth will also lead to a need for more substance abuse counselors. Many states are shifting away from criminalizing drug use, seeing it as a mental health problem that should be treated through the medical system, not the criminal justice system.

Another reason for the expected growth in counselors' jobs is that an increasing number of employers are offering employee assistance programs that provide counseling services for mental health and alcohol and drug abuse.

Many job openings will also arise as a result of job turnover. Because of the stress levels and the emotional demands involved in this career, there is a high burnout rate. As alcohol and drug abuse counselors leave the field, new counselors are needed to replace them.