University of the Pacific’s Substance Abuse Counselor Program offered by Benerd College was recently presented the Spotlight Award. This award, given by the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) highlights a school that has made an outstanding contribution to substance use disorder counselor education and/or continuing education.

Located on Pacific’s Stockton campus, the Substance Abuse Counselor Certificate is a six-month long program that provides students with the knowledge and experience to become certified in substance abuse counseling. The topics studied include treatment planning, crisis intervention, client education and community resources. The program meets the educational and training requirements per the State of California Department of Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Programs.

“We are very excited to receive the Spotlight Award” said Elizabeth Maloney, the faculty lead for the certificate program. Maloney, who has taught in the program for over a decade, was present for the virtual award ceremony. “The award is very prestigious within the CCCAP, and our program continues to be a leader in the industry,” expressed Maloney.

The need for substance abuse counselor jobs are on the rise as the opioid epidemic coupled with reforms in both the insurance and criminal justice sectors have created new opportunities for counselors in this field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the number of substance abuse counselors to grow by 22% from 2018-2028. Maloney emphasized the need for the program in our community, and acknowledged the efforts of the faculty, staff and students who have dedicated their time to the cause.

The CCAPP is the leading agency in California that oversees Substance Abuse Programs and Professionals, and Pacific is an approved provider of prerequisite education through this agency. Out of 56 approved schools, Benerd’s Substance Abuse certificate program was presented the award for their contribution to the field.

To learn more about Pacific’s Substance Abuse Counselor Program, visit their website.