VitalCore Health Strategies logo
VitalCore Health Strategies
Alamogordo, New Mexico

Substance Use Disorder Counselor - CAADC, CADC

CounselorIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$53k-$59k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

Join the VitalCore Team in Delaware! We’re people fueled by passion, not by profit!

VitalCore Health Strategies (VCHS), an industry leader in Correctional Health Care, has an opening for a Substance Use Disorder Counselor at Otero County Detention Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico for Full-Time!

Pay is based on experience and having a CADC.

You will be given the opportunity to utilize your training, skills and experience in a face-to-face setting with people from a variety of socioeconomic and educational backgrounds. Being able to see the impact you are making with these individuals, when they are at their lowest, least hopeful points.

You will be working as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team comprised of Medical, Psychiatry, Ancillary, Security, Legal, community providers and psychiatric hospitals. The best part of this – It is done in real-time with real people!

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER COUNSELOR PACKAGE TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

  • Holiday Pay: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Health Savings Account
  • Life Insurance
  • Short Term/Long Term Disability
  • Identity Theft Protection
  • Pet Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program and Discount Center
  • 401K & Plan Matching
  • PTO
  • Annual Incentive Bonus
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Substance Use Disorder Counselor Position Summary

The SUD Counselor will work as part of a multidisciplinary team with all other disciplines on the Behavioral Health Unit to provide a proactive and collaborative approach in serving the patient population. Flexibility of working days, evenings and weekends

Substance Use Disorder Counselor Minimum Requirements

  • Graduation from a Bachelor's level program or higher
  • Employment in a clinician/counselor/social work capacity in a public or private agency or equivalent preferred.
  • Must have a substance use certification (i. e., CADC, CAADC) or must be actively working towards attaining a substance use certification and must obtain the certification within two years of hire.
  • Individuals who are not certified must be under the direct supervision of a certified clinical supervisor with written documentation of supervision.
  • Flexibility of working days, evenings and weekends

Substance Use Disorder Counselor Essential Functions

  • Professionals will provide crisis stabilization, complete intakes and on-going evaluations, and provide consultation to in-house and community services.
  • Participate in monthly behavioral health calls, work collaborative with the medical team to best determine overall treatment for each individual.
  • The SUD Counselor performs risk assessment of inmates; coordination of care with interdisciplinary team including medical staff, community providers, psychiatric hospitals and corrections; and discharge planning.
  • The SUD Counselor assists in planning and implementing the goals and objectives of programs and projects.
  • The SUD Counselor provides the necessary preparation of documentation, necessary records and reports.
  • The SUD Counselor utilizes clinical skills such as prioritizing treatment needs; crisis management; brief clinical interventions including CBT and Motivational Interviewing.
  • Excellent and timely documentation skills required.
  • The ideal candidate is able to make independent clinical decisions, while utilizing assistance and supervisory intervention, as needed.

VitalCore Health Strategies is an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the business and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives.

Keywords: LPC, LSW, Correctional Facility, Behavioral Health, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Social Worker, LCSW, LCPC, LMSW, LPC, substance use disorder, SUD, mental health

Key Responsibilities

Provide crisis stabilization, intakes, and ongoing evaluations for patients within a correctional facility. Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to coordinate care, perform risk assessments, and implement treatment goals.

Requirements

Requires a Bachelor's degree or higher and a substance use certification (CADC, CAADC) or the ability to obtain one within two years. Preference is given to those with experience in a clinician or social work capacity within public or private agencies.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Intake AssessmentCognitive Behavioral TherapyClinical DocumentationCase ManagementInterdisciplinary Collaboration

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 72% are remote, 30% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for New Mexico is 92.2 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$56k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $61k in an average-cost state. 61.4% of New Mexico clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

How many Substance Use / Addiction Counselor jobs are remote?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$53k–$59kSubstance Use / Addiction Counselor median $63k (middle half $56k–$69k)218 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$61k in purchasing powerNew Mexico index 92.2 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings in New Mexico143 active13,730 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 72% remote · 30% no call · 72% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

35 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

35 jobs · 14 employers
9
<$90k
2
$90k-105k
10
$105k-120k
13
$120k-135k
1
$155k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

30 jobs · 14 employers
401k / retirement match
97% this job
Sign-on bonus
37%
CME allowance
17%
Loan repayment
3%
PSLF eligible
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

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#4

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

$115k-$120k
+ 33 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 1.5
Below most Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,008 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes weekends
VitalCore Health Strategies logo

About VitalCore Health Strategies

Hospitals and Health Care
Topeka, Kansas
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Holiday Pay
Medical
Dental
Vision
Health Savings Account
Life Insurance
Short Term/Long Term Disability
Identity Theft Protection

Living in Alamogordo

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$211k≈ 4.0× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,560/mo≈ 35% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
18 min
State income tax
Up to 5.9%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.