The Addiction Counselor Training Program is offered through an agreement between The University of Montana and The University of Nevada at Reno in collaboration with the Mountain West Addiction Technology Transfer Center. Course offerings allow students to explore the area of Substance Abuse Counseling, while simultaneously earning some of the prerequisite academic credits necessary to obtain state and/or national licensing as an Addictions Counselor.
While courses are taught by faculty at The University of Nevada at Reno, registration for these courses is facilitated by Extended Learning Services at The University of Montana and students earn UM credit. The faculty advisor for these courses is Dr. Tim Conley. Students must contact Dr. Conley for academic advising and to obtain the link for online registration: 406.243.5557 or timothy.conley@umontana.edu. More information can be found on the Student Information page.
The U.S. Department of Labor Web site reports that:
"Demand is expected to be strong for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors because drug offenders are increasingly being sent to treatment programs rather than to jail."
Some additional factors for an increasing demand for substance abuse counselors include the "graying" of the profession, the "graying of the general population," and that, "...although some 19 million people in the United States suffer form alcohol dependence, less then 1/5 of these individuals receive treatment for this chronic disease." (Di Clemente C. Helping You To Help Your Patients , Boston, Mass: Join Together; 2003. Page 9.)
We wish you the very best as you begin this new and exciting chapter of your educational experience.
