Online master's in addictions and recovery therapy programs can fulfill state licensing for caring practitioners craving opportunities to remedy life-threatening abuse of illicit substances. The UN's World Drug Report states that just one in six of the 29 million adults who are victims of chemical dependency disorders receive treatment. Master's in addictions and recovery online have the most flexible formats for learning the counseling theories to defeat the most abused drugs: nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, painkillers, cocaine, and heroin. Demand is high with the Centers for Disease Control reporting 42,249 U.S. deaths in 2016 from a worsening opioid crisis. Alcoholism is another treatment priority affecting 16.6 million Americans and contributing to 10,265 drunk driving casualties yearly according to Motor Vehicle Safety. Addiction workers can help address the 30 percent rise in ER overdose visits from 2017 by guiding users through detox, withdrawal, and abstinence to lifelong sobriety.
Methodology
The Grad School Hub staff strives to improve chemical dependency workers' prognosis for a healthy degree ROI by prescribing a list of cheap addictions and recovery masters online. We started by inputting the search terms "substance abuse/addiction counseling" into the National Center for Education Statistics' College Navigator. We visited each of the 35 colleges' websites to sort the online master's from the advanced certificates. Our team also consulted Google to locate newer online programs not yet indexed by the directory. Next, we evaluated academic quality by double checking each potential university's regional accreditation on the U.S. Education Department database. Our last step was to record the average in-state graduate tuition, excluding fees, updated for 2017-18. These are the 10 least expensive online master's in addictions and recovery therapy billing under $12,000.
Explore these promoted online degree programs.
These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master's or PhD programs.
Ranking Low-cost Online Addictions and Recovery Master's
Other Master's in Addictions and Recovery Online Degree Offerings
Master of Science in Addiction Studies Online
Average Graduate Tuition: $14,365 per year
Online Professional Counseling (MS) Addictions Concentration
Average Graduate Tuition: $16,360 per year
M.S. in Counseling – Substance Abuse Counseling Concentration Online
Average Graduate Tuition: $18,932 per year
Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.S.) – Addiction Emphasis
Average Graduate Tuition: $20,280 per year
Master of Arts in Addiction Studies Online
Average Graduate Tuition: $25,124 per year
Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies
Online Master's in Addiction Studies: Integrated Recovery for Co-Occurring Disorders
Average Graduate Tuition: $33,132 per year
Certificates in Addictions and Recovery Also Available Online
Addiction Counseling Graduate Certificate Online
Average Graduate Tuition: $4,941 per year
Online Addiction Counseling Certificate Program (ACCP)
Average Graduate Tuition: $6,980 per year
Graduate Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling Online
Average Graduate Tuition: $7,500 per year
Online Master's Certificate in Addiction Studies
Average Graduate Tuition: $11,192 per year
California University of Pennsylvania
Addictive Disorders Counseling Graduate Certificate Online
Average Graduate Tuition: $12,000 per year
Online Specialty Program in Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Average Graduate Tuition: $14,310 per year
Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling Graduate Certificate Online
Average Graduate Tuition: $14,652 per year
Online Addictions Counseling Certificate Program
Average Graduate Tuition: $14,670 per year
You may also like: 10 Most Affordable Doctorate in Behavioral Psychology Online
Which Jobs Open for Master's in Addictions and Recovery Online Graduates?
Finishing an online master's in addictions and recovery therapy in two to five years would qualify altruistic, resilient post-grads for most jobs rescuing others from the powerful grips of drugs. Perhaps the only Ph.D. careers graduates are ineligible for are psychiatrist, university professor, rehab physician, and medical scientist. Addictions are pervasive disorders, so in-depth chemical dependency knowledge aids jobs in various disciplines like family therapy, case management, nursing, behavioral health, probation, vocational rehabilitation, and education. Adding NCCAP credentials like Certified Addiction Counselor, Nicotine Dependence Specialist, and Adolescent Addiction Counselor can help specialize with an initial application fee of $235. The AIHCP also provides the Certified Substance Abuse Practitioner distinction with 215+ continuing education credits earned every four years. Let's review four popular job descriptions where addictions and recovery master's online study is viewed favorably.
Substance Abuse Counselor- Recognized for the 10th best social service job by the U.S. News & World Report, substance abuse counselors are guiding lights who place addicts on the road to recovery with personalized therapeutic care. Online addictions and recovery masters help counselors assess mental health, identify co-occurring disorders, outline treatment goals, follow 12-step programs, teach coping mechanisms, and nurture family support.
Addictions Social Worker- Earning a master's in addictions and recovery online after LBSW licensure could lead social workers to Forbes‘ $35 billion addiction treatment field where weaning off alcohol or drug dependence is principal. Besides counseling, they'll connect clients to rehab, establish support groups, refer community resources, address personal issues, plan prevention outreach, advocate for drug-related policies, and arrange job training.
Recovery Coach- The National Institute on Drug Abuse places the relapse rate at 40 to 60 percent, so online master's in addictions and recovery therapy graduates may specialize in aftercare that keeps patients sober. Recovery coaches facilitate rehab transitions, create wellness plans, refer social assistance, resolve abstinence barriers, model life skills, recognize relapse symptoms, make home visits, and monitor long-term progress.
Drug Rehab Administrator- The 14,500 substance abuse facilities counted by American Addiction Centers each need senior-level executive teams to direct the delivery of efficient patient care from five to 90 days or longer. Drug rehab administrators with addictions and recovery master's online degrees will develop operational policies, recruit clinicians, budget finances, analyze quality metrics, handle regulatory affairs, and report to governing boards.
What is the Salary Potential for an Addictions and Recovery Master's Online?
Finding cheap addictions and recovery master's online bargains is smart because this modestly paid field often compensates less than the average loan debt of $56,661 published on Business Insider. Although the Senate Health and Welfare Committee passed funding in March 2017 to raise mental health funding by $30.2 million, wages have hardly risen. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the 91,040 substance abuse counselors make a mean yearly salary of $44,160, or $21.23 per hour. Mental health therapists snag average pay of $46,050. Clinical social workers bring home median wages of $53,760. Rehabilitation technicians earn just $38,740 on average. Psychologists boast higher pay of $75,230 each year. On Salary.com, the best-paid addictions job goes to rehabilitation directors at $127,552. Other high averages were $115,584 for substance abuse center managers, $99,704 for chemical dependency directors, $101,082 for clinical nurse specialists, and $75,708 for case managers.
How are Hiring Prospects For Online Addictions and Recovery Master's Degrees?
Demand for addictions and recovery masters online graduates is rising along with illicit drug use, which spiked 8.3 percent to 24.6 million from 2002 to 2013 according to the National Institutes of Health. The NACE Class of 2016 survey found that 89 percent of master's students had positive employment outcomes in six months. That's especially true in substance abuse counseling where the U.S. Department of Labor projects faster-than-average 23 percent growth of 23,800 jobs through 2026. The hiring of family therapists will jump by 23 percent for 51,200 total employment. Addictions social workers can expect a 19 percent increase this decade. Other 10-year outlooks are 14 percent for psychologists, 16 percent for health educators, 13 percent for rehabilitation technicians, and 20 percent for clinical services administrators. Sober Nation noted Vermont, Nevada, New Mexico, Florida, Alaska, and Rhode Island as the most addicted states where jobs will abound. Online master's in addictions and recovery therapy degrees give location flexibility for nurturing one's calling to battle people's dependencies anywhere.
Additional Sources:World Drug Report
