Turn your passion for helping others out of a dark place into a rewarding career. A new program in Human Services Technologies/Addiction and Recovery Studies can help you get there.
The concentration prepares students to assist in drug and alcohol counseling, prevention-oriented educational activities, rehabilitation with recovering clients, managing community-based programs, counseling in residential facilities, and pursuit of four-year degrees.
“Unfortunately, there is much unmet need in our area to serve those dealing with addiction,” Kimberly Snyder, the lead instructor in Human Services Technologies. “Dr. Fred Rottnek was here last fall and provided some comprehensive statistics about this topic. According to the CDC, nationwide 136 people die from opioid overdoses daily. Rutherford County’s rate of unintentional medication/drug overdose deaths is 23.1 per 100,000 compared to 18.5 per 100,000 statewide.”
Blanton said jobs are readily available in this area in many settings.
“Local agencies have reported difficulty hiring qualified staff to meet the needs for our area,” she said. “For example, one employer had a vacancy for 400 days and the job is currently vacant again.”
Course work includes classroom and experiential activities oriented toward an overview of chemical dependency, psychological/sociological process, the twelve Core Functions, intervention techniques with individuals in groups, and follow-up activities with recovering clients.
Graduates should qualify for positions as substance abuse counselors, DWI counselors, halfway houseworkers, residential facility employees, and substance education specialists. With educational and clinical experiences, graduates can obtain certification by the North Carolina Addiction Specialist Professional Practice Board.
Students may take the entire associate degree if they have not yet earned a degree, which typically takes two years going full-time. However, students who already have a bachelor’s or master’s degree may opt to take the certificate courses, which would enable them to work towards certification or licensure with the NC Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board.
For more information about a degree in Human Services Technology, contact Kimberly Snyder at [email protected] or 828-395-4165.
