Our nation is in the midst of a very serious problem that the addiction treatment field is facing. In addition to the rising number of people abusing opiates, there is already a shortage in the number of certified or licensed counselors across the country.
As noted in a recent story from NPR, even if there were enough beds available for people in need of a rehabilitation program, there aren’t enough professionals in the field who would provide the services. Some people point fingers at lawmakers and state regulators for requiring higher education standards without providing solutions to the new demands. A representative for the National Council for Behavioral Health suggested in the article that the federal government provide reimbursement to people who are furthering their education to meet these newer standards.
According to research from the Pew Charitable Trusts last year, there is an average of just 32 addiction professionals per 1,000 adults who need some type of alcohol or drug rehabilitation service. The findings also mentioned that similarly-trained and licensed professionals in other health care fields earn more. Providing equal pay in this area of behavioral health would likely help attract more people to choose it as a career option.
With our nation suffering from record numbers of people dying from drug overdose, there has never been a greater need for quality addiction treatment staff than there is right now. Additionally, people want a place that they can trust and an organization that is stable with low turnover. Genesis House has some of the most competent and dedicated treatment and support staff available today, which is what keeps us in the top tier of the field. If you have a loved one in need of help for a substance abuse problem, contact us today to see how we can help.
