This program prepares students for certification as
Alcohol and/or Drug Abuse Counselors. The Certificate
of Achievement is designed to prepare students for
entry level alcohol and drug counselor employment.
The associate degree provides academic preparation
for baccalaureate study in psychology, social work and
related disciplines.
Program Emphasis
This program is both vocational and academic. It trains
students in the core functions of an alcohol and drug
counselor while providing a theoretical foundation in
the behavioral sciences and human service
professions.
Career Options
Upon completion of the certificate of achievement
or associate degree, students may be eligible for
entry level employment as alcohol and/or drug
abuse counselors. However the state of California
requires additional credentialing in order to maintain
employment in this field. Persons hired as alcohol/
drug counselors have five years to become fully
certified and most employers will want counselors
to be certified within a year of being hired. California
does not license alcohol and drug abuse counselors
at this time. Certification is accomplished through
private credentialing organizations that are
nationally approved and approved by the State
of California. The Alcohol and Other Drug Studies
Program relates to two certifying organizations: The
California Association of Alcohol/Drug Educators
(CAADE) and the California Association of Alcoholism
and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC). CAADE
offers certification as a Certified Addiction Treatment
Counselor (CATC) and CAADAC offers certification
as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
(CADC). Both organizations offer several levels of
certification depending on experience and academic
achievement. There are four other counselor
certifying organizations in California. Students who
complete the certificate of achievement in AODS
will have met the educational requirements of all
certifying organizations.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the Alcohol and Other Drug Studies Program will:
- Recognize, describe, and explain a variety ofmodels and theories of substance use, abuse, anddependence.
- Identify diagnostic criteria and apply assessmentskills for substance abuse and dependence.
- Describe and explain the social, political,economic, and cultural contexts within whichsubstance use, abuse, and dependence exist,including the risk and resilience factors that characterize individuals and groups and theirenvironments.
- Identify the behavioral, psychological, physicalhealth, and social effects of psychoactivesubstances on the person and their significantothers.
- Recognize the potential for substance usedisorders to mimic a variety of medical andmental health conditions.
- Explain the potential for medical and mentalhealth conditions to coexist with substance use,abuse, and dependence.
- Assess and evaluate the philosophies, practices,policies, and outcomes of the most accepted andscientifically validated models of treatment,recovery, relapse prevention, and continuing carefor addiction and other substance-relatedproblems, and value an interdisciplinary approachto addiction treatment.
- Explain the importance of family, social networks,and community systems in the treatment andrecovery process.
- Apply research and outcome data in clinicalpractice.
- Practice in an internship the eight addiction counselor practice dimensions: clinical evaluation; treatment planning; referral; service coordination; counseling; client, family, community education; documentation; professional and ethical responsibilities.