Healthcare

Addiction Worker

Challenge your potential, while making a difference, with a rewarding career in the healthcare sector. Take advantage of our small class sizes to get the attention and guidance you need from our highly-skilled instructors.

    Request Info!

    Fill in the form below and we will contact you as soon as possible.

    Country is required
    Program of Interest is required
    First Name is required
    Last Name is required
    Valid email address is required
    Valid phone number is required
    Answer is required
    Answer is required
    Answer is required
    Answer is required
    Consent is required

    Type

    Diploma

    Duration

    47 Weeks

    Internship

    8 Weeks

    Program Outline

    View Outline Arrow Icon Pointing Right

    About The Program

    This 47-week diploma program will help you develop group-facilitation skills as well as entry-level skills in 1-to-1 counselling. Aside from classes on addiction, pharmacology, treatment planning, and counselling, you will also take courses on digital literacy, student success strategies, and career planning. Cap off your program with an 8-week internship to earn valuable hands-on experience that employers seek.

    Career Opportunities

    As an Addiction Worker graduate, you will qualify for positions such as: Addiction Worker, Distress Centre Support Worker, Group Home Worker, and Outreach Worker. 

    Note that some career options may require advanced degrees, further training or experience.

     

    Employers Who Have Hired triOS Grads

    • YMCA
    • Canadian Centre for Addictions
    • Social Services
    • Toronto Community Housing
    • McMaster Children’s Hospital
    • United Way Toronto
    • Goodwill Toronto
    • HIV/AIDS Connection

    Salary

    90 %

    Employment Rate

    $ 25

    Average Wage/HR**

    $ 37

    High Wage/HR**

    *Employment Rate based on 2022 contactable triOS graduates employed in a related field within 12 months.

    Source: workingincanada.gc.ca

    NOC Code: 4212/42201 - **Wage data rounded down to the nearest dollar. Average wage doesn't reflect the starting salary but represents the middle value between lowest to highest wages. Local (or regional) income may vary. Last updated in Jan 2024.

    Program Details

    Are you interested in helping victims of substance abuse? Do you want to address issues like addiction and bring forward change in peoples’ lives? If so, then the Addiction Worker program is just what you need to kickstart your career into this rewarding field.

    This program is designed to provide you with the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills required for employment as an Addiction Worker. You will learn to apply the principles of addiction, pharmacology and structured relapse prevention planning. You will gain practical skills in intake, assessment, motivational interviewing and treatment planning with a strong emphasis on case management and professional ethics. Course coverage includes an in-depth study of family dynamics and addiction as well as special populations: First Nations and other ethnic/cultural groups, youth, sexual minorities, elderly, concurrent disorders, homeless, gender (women), crime, HIV/AIDS and suicidal clients. Principles of communication are explored in great depth and students will explore anger and stress management techniques. A strong focus is given to presentation skills, Microsoft Office applications, documentation and record keeping, the ability to multitask and prioritize, organizational and detail skills, professional telephone manner, confidentiality, interpersonal skills and being a team player.

    Students enrolled in the program receive:

    • Microsoft Office and Windows are included in the tuition costs.
    Course Listings
    Arrow Down
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Anger & Stress Management Techniques
    This course provides a foundation for developing anger & stress management techniques. Topics include anger management & stress management. On completion of this course the student will have gained a foundational understanding of managing emotional life issues especially anger, rage and anxiety.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. AW internship
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Case Management & Ethics
    This course provides an introduction to case management and ethical practices. Topics include ethics and other professional responsibilities, case management roles and functions, developing service plans, mental status exam and the DSM-IV. On completion of this course the student will have gained a foundational understanding of case management and its applications. This course also involves creating a general awareness to ethical issues and other professional responsibilities.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Career Planning & Preparation - Level 1
    This module introduces tools for planning and preparing for a successful job search, so that students can maintain a career-focused approach throughout their education program. Students will learn how to research opportunities and network for industry contacts, and use appropriate etiquette when communicating with prospective employers. Students will identify their personal skills, values and preferences for the workplace, begin preparation of a professional resume, cover letter, thank you note and references. Class discussions on various self-management topics introduced in Student Success Strategies will round out this module, which is a pre-requisite for Career Planning and Preparation – Level 2.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Career Planning & Preparation - Level 2
    This module continues to build on the concepts and skills introduced in Career Planning and Preparation - Level I. Students will learn how to conduct an effective job search and identify various methods of applying for work with today’s technology. Students will create a personal list of “Top Employers” and target current industry opportunities, while finalizing their professional resume, portfolio and career correspondence. Students will learn to identify the different types and forms of interviews, practice responding to typical questions, and practice follow-up, evaluation and negotiation techniques they can use to ensure success. Self-management topics from Career Planning and Preparation - Level I will be reviewed, with a focus towards on-the-job success in both learner placements and post-graduate employment.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Addiction, Crime and Psychology
    This course provides a basic understanding of psychology including a historical overview, concurrent disorders (major psychological disorders), rational emotive therapy, self motivations, values and morality. The course also provides insight into addiction & crime and explores anomie theory and motivation as well as opportunity theory. The course also involves the In-depth study of the autobiography of Serge Leclerc.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Digital Literacy for Professionals
    This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and principles of learning and working in a digital environment. This course will cover the following elements: using devices and handling information, creating and editing information, communicating and collaborating, and being safe and responsible online.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Family Dynamics & Addictions
    This course provides a basic study of the alcoholic family in recovery. Topics include when the drinking/drugging stops, process of families in recovery, assessing family functioning and the stages of families in recovery. On completion of this course the student will have gained a foundational understanding of addiction as a family disease. This course also involves creating an experiential understanding of the effects of addiction on the family.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Group & Individual Substance Abuse Counselling
    In this course students will be introduced to the foundation of counselling the alcohol and drug dependent client. Topics include treatment principles, counseling techniques, the individual, treatment & group counseling therapy principles and modalities. The student will also participate in challenging exercises that promote skill development, conceptual understand and self-awareness. On completion of this course the student will have gained a foundational understanding of counselling clients with substance abuse issues in group and individual settings. This course also involves creating an experiential understanding of group dynamics as well as group design and implementation.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Personal and Professional Health Development of the Counsellor
    This course provides a foundation for positive health development of the counselor. Topics include depression & despair, sleep deprivation, healthy supports & relationships, dealing with loneliness and grief, spirituality & self-esteem, humor & laughter and nutrition & exercise. On completion of this course the student will have gained a foundational understanding of healthy counselor development.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Intake, Assessment and Interviewing
    This course provides a study of addiction related intake, assessment and interviewing techniques. Topics include screening & intake, DSM 5, Motivational Interviewing & Stages of Change, interviewing youth and suicide, assessment and intervention. On completion of this course the student will have gained a foundational understanding of screening, intake, assessment and interviewing processes. Upon completion of this course the student will demonstrate confident assessment and interviewing skills.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Introduction to Cognitive Behavioural Theory
    This course provides an introduction to Cognitive Theory for Addictions. Upon completion of this course the student will have gained a basic foundation of the theory, practice and application of Cognitive Behaviour Theory in the area of addictions.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Pharmacology
    This course provides an introduction to pharmacology. Topics include classes of drugs and drugs within each class; basic principles of drug pharmacology; drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion; therapeutic and toxic effects; endogenous and exogenous substances; effects of drugs on behavior, cognition and emotions; CNS and PNS studies; neurons and neurotransmitters; liver diseases, GI tract absorption disorders related to drug use; blood brain barrier; first pass metabolism and dose-response relationship. On completion of this course the student will have gained a foundational understanding of the basic principles of drug pharmacology with emphasis specific to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Principles of Communication
    This course provides a foundation for developing communication skills. Topics include verbal and non-verbal communication, sensory data, power, affiliation and achievement, questions, values and beliefs. On completion of this course the student will have gained a foundational understanding of necessary communication skills needed for counseling. This course also involves extensive practical exercises.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Principles of Addiction
    This course provides a foundation for the study of addictions. Topics include substance abuse trends, statistics and effects in society; theories, treatment modalities, prevention and intervention ideals; classes of drugs and study of drugs within each class; addiction and its effects. The Principles of Addiction course also introduces students to a deeper insight into addictions through study of Dr. Gabor Mate’s book ‘In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts’; Close Encounters with Addiction. On completion of this course the student will have gained a foundational understanding of addiction and its applications. This course also involves creating a general awareness to ethical issues and practices. This course will allow the opportunity for students to interact and understand the relevance of addiction and the impact on society.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Process Addictions
    This course provides a basic foundation for the study of process addictions. Topics include: compulsive gambling, sex addiction, eating disorders, work-a-holism and compulsive buying.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Structured Relapse Prevention Planning
    This course provides a study of structured relapse prevention and the nature of the cycle of addiction. Topics include relapse prevention overview and trends, understanding relapse behavior, treatment modalities and post acute withdrawal. On completion of this course the student will have gained a foundational understanding of structured relapse prevention and its applications. This course also involves creating a general awareness of the role of the structured relapse prevention counselor.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Addiction Resources & Networking
    This course provides intense research and study of community agencies specific to the field of addictions. On completion of this course the student will have gained a in-depth study of community agencies and services available to support individuals suffering from addictions. This course also involves creating a network catalogue which the student can reference in the workplace.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Special Populations
    This course provides a basic study of the effects of substance abuse and chemical dependency on special populations. Special populations covered: Natives & other ethnic/cultural groups, youth, sexual minorities (LGBT), elderly, co-occurring disabilities, homeless, gender (women) and suicidal clients.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Student Success Strategies
    This course stresses the importance of developing non-technical skills to enhance personal, academic and career success. This includes understanding learning styles and honing practical study skills, such as memory, reading, note- and test-taking techniques. Personal exercises will focus on teamwork, decision making and problem solving skills, setting goals and maintaining a positive attitude techniques for managing change, stress and conflict will also be explored.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Secondary Traumatic Stress
    This course provides a foundational understanding of secondary traumatic stress. Topics include secondary traumatic stress, trauma, post traumatic stress disorder, vicarious trauma, the therapist-supports / barriers / sorting styles & dual relationships.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Treatment Planning
    This course provides an established standard for writing effective and efficient treatment plans in the treatment of addictions. Topics include developing and writing treatment plans, goals, objectives, presenting problems, measuring success and outcomes. This course will also involve creating a treatment plan for Crickett. Upon completion of this course students will have gained practical application of establishing effective and efficient treatment plans.
    Admission Requirements
    Arrow Down

    – High school graduation diploma, or Mature Student Status (for more information please refer to the Program Outline at the top of this page or speak to your Education Consultant)

    – Student must provide a clear Vulnerable Sector Check.

    Career Quiz

    Take a quick and easy quiz to find out more about yourself, your goals, and identify your strengths and social style. This quiz gives you suggestions for what career areas you might consider based on your likes and preferences. Give it a try now!

    Success Stories

    It was the best experience ever. I never thought I could do it, but I did! I am so proud of myself.

    Rheta W.

    Graduated 2015