I want Substance Use Disorder (SUD) counselors to be licensed because they are the only professionals trained exclusively in substance use. Once licensed, SUD counselors may serve more effectively and efficiently against the pandemic of addiction ravaging the State of California than any other profession.  

Almost 1 in 10 people in the United States has a substance use problem, according to Kelly et al. (2017). COVID-19 has only exaggerated the issues related to substance use that result in many people becoming homeless. Palepu et al. (2013) calculated the chronically homeless in the United States with substance use problems was between 29 and 75 percent. There is a need to meet this problem. Muzyk et al.'s (2017) research stated one concern is the inadequacy of substance use disorder training of those in the health field.  

Independent Substance Use Disorder Counselors can currently perform the entire range of functions for someone with substance use but must have a master's degree; to practice (and bill insurance) independently. There is still no master's degree exclusive for substance use disorder that the Board of Behavior of Science (BBS) recognized. The additional training and licensing requirements are why substance use disorder (SUD) counselors are limited in their ability to receive extra income or advancement is limited in their field. SUD counselors' training and continual training is based exclusively on substance use disorder training, whereas there is little SUD training given the mental health experts leading SUD programs.  

Please sign this petition to help decrease Substance Use.