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Drugs Help

• Jason's Testimony

 

Have you ever known someone: a friend, a relative or co-worker who had or has a problem with alcohol or drug abuse or dependence? According to Associate Professor Deb Murray, most people who end up working as a substance abuse counselor answer yes to that question. The conditions of alcohol and other drug abuse or dependence can profoundly impact individuals, families, institutions and society, leading to a need for professional substance abuse counselors. Starting in the fall 2010 semester, Viterbo and the school of Graduate, Professional and Adult Education will meet the needs of the community and Viterbo students by introducing a new Addiction Studies major.

   

 “A major in Addiction Studies will prepare students for careers in psychology, human services, criminal justice, ministry, health care, education and business,” adult education adviser Darcie Mueller, told Lumen. “Students will be ready, willing and able to assist with program development, program evaluation, developing lesson plans and managing data,” she said.

    

“A total of 31 credits are required for the major in the form of 11 different classes,” Mueller said. Nine classes are in psychology with two other classes in alcohol and drug abuse. For students with a lot of psychology classes already taken, it could be very easy to attain the six credits needed in alcohol and drug abuse specific courses to fill the degree requirements.”

    

“Professional skills (ADCT427) and Professional issues (ADCT423) are two classes needed for the degree requirements and both are three credit courses,” Mueller said.

    

“For the training and required education hours that are determined by the state; the degree program follows all regulations and the state has accepted the courses and program,” Murray said.

   

“There are two primary components to Substance Abuse counselor training,” Mueller said. “First, students need 360 hours of state approved education which is covered by the courses required in the Addictions Studies major. The second component for training is to have 4,000 supervised hours in the field by a certified substance abuse counselor.”

    

During an informational meeting held in the Reinhart Center’s Board room on Feb. 24, a panel of four Viterbo graduates, who now work in the field, were present to talk about the paths they took and answered questions from prospective addictions studies majors.

    

“I graduated with a B.S. in psychology in December 2006. I took several AODA courses but could not become certified,” said Cindy Graham, a 2006 Viterbo graduate from Winona, Minn. “I went on to earn my master’s in social work from the University of Minnesota in 2009. I passed my licensed graduate exam and am now engaged in accumulating the required 4,000 hours of clinical supervision to earn my licensed independent clinical social work credentials.”

 

According to the GPAE website, before students can accumulate supervised hours in the field, they must complete the first 100 hours of education which are the first three courses in the addiction studies major. In addition, if a student completes the bachelor’s degree with a major in Addiction Studies, he/she would need 3,000 supervised hours in the field instead of 4,000 hours.

    

Another Viterbo graduate on the panel currently works for La Crosse County Human Services, as a social worker in alcohol and other drug abuse. “I found that the addiction studies courses I completed at Viterbo assisted me in all fields of social work, as addictions are prevalent in child protection, mental health and justice sanctions,” said Bev Trussoni, a Viterbo 2007 graduate in social work, from La Crosse.

   

“Since the program is within the School of Graduate, Professional and Adult Education, most students inquiring and enrolling into the program so far have been non-traditional adult learners, professionals and former graduates,” Mueller said. “The program and the courses are pretty much set up for adult learners or graduates looking for a second degree,” Mueller said. “Any undergraduate students who are interested in addiction studies are more than welcome to switch majors. If that is the case, meet with your academic adviser to discuss registration or contact me in the GPAE office in the Fine Arts Center.”