Question for substance abuse counselors only please.?

This question is for substance abuse counselors.

I am very curious to learn some of the reasons why you choose to work with those who are substance abusers rather than becoming involved is some other type of counseling service?

Please be as open and thoughful in your responce as you can. This question is for substance abuse counselors currently working, retired or those thinking about working with substance abusers. I look forward to reading all of your replies!

Your question seems to imply by default that people who have developed a problem with substance abuse are somehow less worthy of being helped than those who have not. That's extremely offensive and, to be quite frank, very ignorant.

My response to you would be: why shouldn't I work with people who have substance abuse problems? Do you think that somehow I have to have a personal vested interest in that particular part of psychiatric medicine to want to work with those types of people?

Everyone has problems, some worse than others, and whether I'm working with someone who has a substance abuse problem, or depression, or anxiety, or bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, or any other mental defect or disease, they are deserving of the help they need and want.

Although I'm NOT a substance abuse counselor, I have thought about going into that field. However, I found a different one that suits me better.

My reasons when I was thinking about it, was that I feel that people with substance abuse issues are dealing with a MEDICAL condition that needs to be treated as a medical condition, along with counseling.

My husband has an addiction, even though he is not a drug user, other than what has been prescribed. Because he is under medical care and being followed through with qualified health care professionals, his addiction is not controlling his life.

I do not condone illegal drug use, but I do know that a many people have the addiction that was due to being on medication from surgery, injury or chronic health conditions.

Many people feel that they need to resort to self medicating because they were not properly weaned off or their insurance stopped paying or they could not afford health insurance.

I am not one, but I have found dealing with my addictions that they are in recovery themselves. So I would say that they would work from "Been there, done that'' .