SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College is accepting applications for the Human Services Technology/ Substance Abuse concentration program, which begins this fall. The program is being offered at the CCCC Lee Main Campus in Sanford, with some of the classes available online.

"Our community is fighting an opioid epidemic and Central Carolina Community College is responding to this urgent need by preparing students to become substance abuse counselors who can provide those in need with assistance in overcoming substance abuse addiction," said Denise Martin, CCCC Associate Dean of Health Sciences and Human Services.

The program prepares students to assist in drug and alcohol counseling, prevention-oriented educational activities, rehabilitation with recovering clients, managing community-based programs, counseling in residential facilities, and the college also plans to establish transfer opportunities creating transfer pathways into bachelor's degree programs.

Course work includes classroom and experiential activities oriented toward an overview of chemical dependency, psychological/sociological process, the twelve Core Functions, intervention techniques with individuals in groups, and follow-up activities with recovering clients.

Graduates should qualify for positions as substance abuse counselors, DUI counselors, halfway house workers, residential facility employees, and substance education specialists. With educational and clinical experiences, graduates can obtain certification by the North Carolina Substance Abuse Board.

Central Carolina Community College faculty and staff will also assist the substance abuse concentration students to develop their own personal career plans for entry-level positions in substance abuse and other human services organizations that serve substance-abusing populations, or transfer to a four-year college to continue their education in substance abuse services, or other human service programs of study.

Those interested in this program should reach out to Admissions Specialist Chris Newcomb at (919) 718-7507 or dnewc854@cccc.edu.

For more information on this program, visit www.cccc.edu/curriculum/majors/humanservices.