Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies is collaborating with the School of Management and Labor Relations to provide classroom skills to individuals seeking to become Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC). These individuals include unemployed or underemployed workers and individuals who are motivated to work in the field of addiction. This intensive CADC program is currently running 3 days a week at Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies located in Piscataway, New Jersey. The inaugural class will graduate at the end of November 2018. Participants will have the opportunity to learn the science of addiction, counseling techniques, crisis intervention, case management, addiction recovery, and related topics while mastering the state-mandated core competencies associated with the certification. This program is a result of $1.3 million in new state funding from New Jersey’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development. As New Jersey continues to struggle with the ongoing opioid epidemic, addiction professionals continue to be in high demand; state officials estimate that the number of drug and mental health counselors employed will need to grow another 20 percent over the next ten years. This exciting program will give individuals an opportunity to receive free certified training and college credits in a growing profession while earning an income and potentially helping people change their lives for the better.
