According the the Bureau of Labor and Statistics they are projecting a 21% growth rate over the next 10 years 2008 – 2018 for the hiring of new substance abuse counselors for drug addiction, alcohol addiction, gambling addiction as well as eating disorders. Only mental health counselors eclipses this growth rate over the same 10 year span at 24%.
While many other industries are contracting and exporting jobs overseas this is an industry that appears to headed towards double digit growth for the long haul for better or worse. The good news is that there will be many more substance abuse counselors to help people with addiction, the bad news is that there is still an increased demand for addiction counselors. The other piece of bad news is that it appears that demand will outstrip supply for people who want help kicking their addictions.