To become a substance abuse counselor is a very demanding process. This is because of the fact that you have to devote your time properly in order for you to render the best and the most competitive service to your customers. Your role being a substance abuse counselor is very important. The reason is that you are the sole individual who can effectively assist your patients towards escaping from drug addiction and living a normal life.

2. To become a substance abuse counselor
is a very demanding process. This is
because of the fact that you have to
devote your time properly in order for you
to render the best and the most
competitive service to your customers.
Your role being a substance abuse
counselor is very important. The reason is
that you are the sole individual who can
effectively assist your patients towards
escaping from drug addiction and living
a normal life.

3. This premise alone requires you to exert
your best so as to facilitate an easier
means of attaining your role as a
professional. There are some simple things
you need to know on how to become a
CADC that is capable of rendering the best
service to your customers. Before you
merge in this field of expertise, it is
important that you know these things.

4. It is important that you learn the 12 core
functions of a CADC. Based from the
information supplied by the University of
Idaho, it is easier for substance abuse
counselors to render satisfying services when
they are aware of their 12 core functions.
These functions cover the daily roles that you
have to cover. These are consultation, record
and report keeping, referral, client
education, crisis intervention, case
management, counseling, treatment
planning, assessment, orientation, intake, and
screening.

5. • Under the first six functions, case
management of CADC involves the
coordination and the integration of the plans
of per patient. On the other hand, the crisis
intervention deals mainly in terms of
developing the immediate treatment
needed in case there is an emergency
situation that will be faced by your patient.
The client information responsibility of a
CADC involves educating your clients about
what substance abuse is and all the relevant
information that they have to know about it.

6. Conversely, referral is the practice of referring
your patients to other professionals if you
cannot provide him with all the immediate and
further treatments he needs. When it comes to
record keeping, this is the process of
determining the improvements of the client by
means of jotting down their improvements in a
chart. Consultation on the other hand, is the
process of seeking collaborative information
from the other professionals for the welfare of
the patients.

7. • Furthermore, patient screening is the ability of
the CADC to get the right information needed
even if it is just his initial contact with the patient.
When a CADC possesses the skill needed in
effective patient screening, he is also capable of
determining if the patient is eligible for a
treatment or not. In most cases, the patient fills
up a paperwork which is prepared by the
counselor. Moreover, the intake is the extension
of screening process. This is usually performed
during the first time the counselor meets the
patient. Orientation on the other note is the
capacity to inform the patient with the rules and
policies being implemented by the institution
where he or she is confined.

8. Furthermore, assessment is the process of
determining the range of focus of the
intervention that will be done. This also
determines the nature of treatment. The
treatment plans on the other hand, provides
guidance and goals for the patient so that he
understands the possible outcomes that will
happen once she received her treatment. The
counseling can be done either by group or by
individual basis. A CADC can also involve the
families and the loved ones of the patient if he
wants.

9. Aside from knowing the 12 core functions
once you obtained your substance abuse
counselor certification, it is also important that
you will understand some of the other job
responsibilities that you need to fulfill so that
you can become the best counselor ever.
Being a competent counselor, you must also
posses mastery in terms of establishing rapport
to your patients, educating its family
members, performing simple routine
examinations such as urinalysis,

10. posses the skills to appropriately coordinate
with the other m members of the health care
team as well as to the other institutions or
agencies and many more. Though these are
just minor duties and responsibilities, showing
mastery with these things will make you the
best professional who is able to provide
satisfying services to your future clients.

11. These are the core responsibilities that you need to know or
even master once you have already obtained your substance
abuse certification.

12. Make sure that you do your best so that you
can develop these skills. Though this may take
you some time but there is no deadline up to
when you should master these skills. Proper
apprenticeship will be one of your ways to earn
mastery with these skills. See to it that you will
apply these in actual practice so that you will
be able to hone such skills. You can spend your
apprenticeship in some accredited facilities in
your place.