NSU Offers Master of Science in Substance Abuse

TAHLEQUAH Starting with the fall 2007 semester, Northeastern State University will offer a Master of Science in Substance Abuse Counseling degree, the first of its kind in Oklahoma. The program will be offered at both the Broken Arrow and the Tahlequah campuses.

The 44-hour degree fulfills the requirement passed by the Oklahoma legislature that licensed alcohol and drug counselors in the state have a masters degree after Jan. 1, 2010, said Dr. Dalton Bigbee, Vice President for Academic Affairs. Our faculty has perceived a market demand for people with this level of education, with over 140,000 Oklahomans seeking treatment for alcohol addiction and 21,000 Oklahomans needing treatment for other types of drug addiction.

Substance abuse is the No. 1 public health problem in Oklahoma and nationally, according to statistics from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS). According to ODMHSAS statistics, drug and alcohol addiction contributes to 85 percent of all homicides, 80 percent of all prison incarcerations, 75 percent of all divorces, 65 percent of all child abuse cases, 55 percent of all domestic assaults, 50 percent of all traffic fatalities, 35 percent of all rapes and 33 percent of all suicides in the state.

The economic cost of substance abuse is staggering. Oklahoma spends nearly $7 billion annually and the nation spends $140 billion annually, said Dr. Kathy Sanders, chair of the Department of Psychology and Counseling. That cost includes expenses related to public safety, health care, social services, property loss and costs to businesses.

Anyone interested in pursuing a masters degree in Substance Abuse Counseling should contact the NSU Department of Psychology and Counseling at 918-444-3015 to request an information packet. Applications will be available after April 23, 2007. Interested parties may also contact Dr. Sanders at 918-444-3015.