About This Book

This book is a collaboration between a group of educators with extensive experience in the addictions field. We aim to provide a meaningful resource for those who are training to become certified professionals in the field of addictions counseling and recovery.

A quick note about terminology: the term addiction will often be used interchangeably with substance use disorder. Many behaviors fit the description of addiction, but our focus in this book is on substances such as those described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) under the rubric of Substance Use Disorder. We understand addiction to be a chronic illness of the brain marked by compulsion, loss of control, and continued use despite consequences. These three “Cs” highlight the key features of addiction and distinguish it from other problematic behaviors. Thus, the addiction treatment field incorporates its own distinctive methods.

The addictions counselor utilizes a unique skill set in the broad world of mental health. We believe it is important to recognize those unique attributes and prepare students for the specific environments they will work in.  As identified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), counselors should enter the field with the appropriate knowledge, skills, and attitudes to assist those seeking recovery from substance use disorder.

Before reading this book, it is helpful to have an understanding of how to define addiction, theories of how addiction develops, basic drug pharmacology, and methods used to recover from addiction. The content of the book provides a further step toward becoming a certified counselor. We have divided the text into four primary units. Each unit encompasses a theme that is a fundamental function of people helping others to overcome substance use disorders.