JOB REPORT / 21-1011 · 23 TASKS

Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors.

Can AI do the work of Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

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The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding…
Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable…
Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience…

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A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors work. It covers the 20 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

20 of 23 tasks reviewed

This job has 23 core tasks. We went through 20 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

TASK 01
Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.
AI DOES
Drafts session notes, suggests report templates, and flags missing fields
YOU DO
Review every record for clinical truth and patient dignity
TASK 02
Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.
AI DOES
Summarizes progress notes, tracks goal completion metrics, and flags missed milestones
YOU DO
Trust your direct relationship and clinical instincts when judging true client progress
TASK 03
Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.
AI DOES
Suggests evidence-based treatments, summarizes research, and helps organize client history into a draft plan
YOU DO
Apply clinical intuition, read the whole person, and build the human relationship that makes treatment work
TASK 04
Plan or implement follow-up or aftercare programs for clients to be discharged from treatment programs.
AI DOES
Drafts aftercare plan templates, suggests local resources, and summarizes client history from notes
YOU DO
Build the personal relationship and judgment that keeps each client motivated and safe
TASK 05
Develop, implement, or evaluate public education, prevention, or health promotion programs, working in collaboration with organizations, institutions, or communities.
AI DOES
Drafts program outlines, finds research, writes educational materials, and summarizes evaluation data
YOU DO
Build community trust, read the room, and adapt programs to real people's lives
TASK 06
Coordinate activities with courts, probation officers, community services, or other post-treatment agencies.
AI DOES
Drafts coordination emails, tracks referral contacts, and summarizes case notes for sharing across agencies
YOU DO
Build trust with courts and probation officers and make judgment calls about each client's needs
TASK 07
Coordinate counseling efforts with mental health professionals or other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers.
AI DOES
Drafts referral summaries, schedules follow-ups, and organizes shared care notes
YOU DO
Build trust with the care team and make judgment calls about each client's needs
TASK 08
Confer with family members or others close to clients to keep them informed of treatment planning and progress.
AI DOES
Drafts progress summaries, suggests talking points, and helps prepare family update documents
YOU DO
Build trust and read the emotional needs of worried family members in real time
TASK 09
Follow progress of discharged patients to determine effectiveness of treatments.
AI DOES
Summarizes patient follow-up records, flags missed check-ins, and spots trends in recovery data
YOU DO
Build the human connection that makes patients feel safe enough to share honestly
TASK 10
Conduct chemical dependency program orientation sessions.
AI DOES
Drafts orientation materials, schedules, and talking-point guides
YOU DO
Show up in person and build real trust with clients on day one
TASK 11
Interview clients, review records, and confer with other professionals to evaluate individuals' mental and physical condition and to determine their suitability for participation in a specific program.
AI DOES
Summarizes records, highlights risk factors, and drafts intake checklists
YOU DO
Build trust in the room and make the final clinical call on program fit
TASK 12
Participate in case conferences or staff meetings.
AI DOES
Summarizes client records, drafts talking points, and pulls relevant treatment data before meetings
YOU DO
Show up, listen carefully, and make real-time clinical decisions with your team
TASK 13
Train or supervise student interns or new staff members.
AI DOES
Drafts training materials, onboarding checklists, and feedback templates
YOU DO
Watch, listen, and guide people through real client situations
TASK 14
Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting clients or patients.
AI DOES
Suggests talking points, explains common family dynamics, and drafts psychoeducation materials
YOU DO
Build trust and read the room in real emotional conversations
TASK 15
Supervise or direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.
AI DOES
Organizes schedules, flags performance data, and drafts written feedback or reports
YOU DO
Lead people with empathy, read team dynamics, and make judgment calls about staff and client safety
TASK 16
Act as liaisons between clients and medical staff.
AI DOES
Helps organize client notes, flag urgent info, and draft communication summaries for medical teams
YOU DO
Show up in person, build trust, and read emotional cues that no screen can catch
TASK 17SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Instruct others in program methods, procedures, or functions.
AI DOES
Creates training materials and step-by-step guides
YOU DO
Read the room and adapt your teaching
About this analysis
22% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 18SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Provide clients or family members with information about addiction issues and about available services or programs, making appropriate referrals when necessary.
AI DOES
Compiles service options and eligibility requirements
YOU DO
Match people to what fits their situation
About this analysis
20% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 19SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
AI DOES
Suggests techniques and tracks client progress patterns
YOU DO
Build trust and guide real breakthroughs
About this analysis
0% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 20SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in client status.
AI DOES
Suggests plan adjustments based on status changes
YOU DO
Decide what's right for this person
About this analysis
0% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

START LEARNING AI

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Use your judgment.

There are 20 short lessons for this job, about 15 minutes each. Each one starts from a task above and teaches the part that stays with you.

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Your job, task by task.

Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.

Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.

Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.

Plan or implement follow-up or aftercare programs for clients to be discharged from treatment programs.

Develop, implement, or evaluate public education, prevention, or health promotion programs, working in collaboration with organizations, institutions, or communities.

Coordinate activities with courts, probation officers, community services, or other post-treatment agencies.

Coordinate counseling efforts with mental health professionals or other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers.

Confer with family members or others close to clients to keep them informed of treatment planning and progress.

Follow progress of discharged patients to determine effectiveness of treatments.

Conduct chemical dependency program orientation sessions.

Interview clients, review records, and confer with other professionals to evaluate individuals' mental and physical condition and to determine their suitability for participation in a specific program.

Participate in case conferences or staff meetings.

Train or supervise student interns or new staff members.

Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting clients or patients.

Supervise or direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.

Act as liaisons between clients and medical staff.

Instruct others in program methods, procedures, or functions.

Provide clients or family members with information about addiction issues and about available services or programs, making appropriate referrals when necessary.

Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.

Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in client status.

Practice AI.Use your judgment.

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.