Whether it’s alcohol abuse, opioid abuse, or other kinds of substance abuse, many Americans struggle with addiction. It’s a problem that can completely upend one’s life, triggering a cascade of mental, physical, and social problems that can ruin someone’s relationships, livelihood, and even cause chronic health issues. If you feel compelled to help others find a way back to themselves- or have first-hand experience of what it’s like overcoming addiction yourself- Rio Salado College’s Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Addictions and Substance Use Disorders can offer you the tools and knowledge you’ll need to educate and empower others to heal themselves. Taught by instructors with real-world expertise in addictions counseling, this program (which is accredited by the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission) could be the first step down a long and rewarding career path.
What You’ll Learn
Rio's addictions and substance use disorders (ASD) program will teach you how to identify symptoms of addictions and substance use disorders. You'll learn about the relapse process and how to identify co-occurring disorders. Program students will receive a thorough grounding in the ethics of counseling, how to set up a productive atmosphere for addictions counseling sessions, and also learn how to work with clients and family members to establish counseling goals. You'll learn how to connect people with support networks and teach them how to seek help when they need it. You'll gain an understanding of the 12-steps method, the psychological and pharmacological effects of substance abuse, the laws concerning patient confidentiality, and learn how the recovery process works. From developing case management skills to learning best practices for record keeping and documentation, the ASD program will give you the practical, career-ready skills you'll need to thrive in the field as an ASD professional.
What can I do with an ASD Degree?
Completing an ASD degree program at Rio Salado meets the coursework requirements needed to apply for licensure as a Licensed Addiction Counselor Technician in the state of Arizona. There are, however, other avenues for employment you can pursue with an ASD degree. The expertise you’ll cultivate through this program can prepare you to take on several different kinds of roles in healthcare, education, wellness, and recovery. Rewarding careers that an ASD degree could unlock include:
- Addiction counselor
- Behavioral disorder counselor
- Rehabilitation specialist
- Prevention specialist
- Health education specialist
- Psychiatric technician (With advanced degrees)
- Psychologist
- Social worker
- Peer support specialist
- Mental health counselor
ASD workers can operate in a variety of environments: at-home, hospitals, inpatient and outpatient treatment centers, correctional facilities, educational institutions, and in the offices of other health practitioners. ASD professionals can find employment in both the private and public sectors.
What Does a Future in Addiction Studies Look Like?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in the substance abuse and behavioral health fields are projected to grow 17% percent from now to 2034. This rate of job growth is much, much faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for individuals trained to help people overcome their addictions is expected to remain high. While the future of human labor continues to be reshaped by the growing adoption of AI across many industries, the human element of addictions counseling remains evergreen. The combination of interpersonal soft skills and clinical knowledge you’ll cultivate as part of the ASD program can prepare you for a life of listening, healing, and connecting with others in need.
Save Time and Money
Rio Saldado’s class credits are transferable, which means they can be applied to many universities and colleges across the country. Not all colleges take transfer credits, so be sure to check in with the school you plan to transfer to in order to make sure your Rio work will be accepted. Our ASD science degree program can help you complete the general education requirements for many four-year institutions and is aligned to satisfy the degree requirements for our transfer partners at Grand Canyon University, NAU, and Ottawa University. What that means is completing Rio’s ASD program will set you up for a smooth transition over to one of our partner school’s bachelor degree programs. You’ll be able to save time and money by getting a head-start on your first two years of college at Rio and take your prerequisites on a much lower tuition rate.
Learn More
Interested in learning more about our ASD degree program? Check out our program page and complete the request for information at the bottom of the page.
Article by Austin Brietta