State of North Carolina logo
State of North Carolina
Black Mountain, North Carolina

Substance Abuse Counselor - JFK ADATC

Addiction CounselorIncludes callIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$43K - $76K

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Weekend work is also flagged as required; confirm which days and how often.

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

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

  • Agency
  • Division
  • Job Classification Title
  • Substance Abuse Counselor (NS)
  • Position Number
  • Grade
  • NC10

About Us

North Carolina State Government is one of the state’s largest employers, with over 76,000 employees all working toward a common goal: a safer and stronger North Carolina. We are a large organization comprised of various agencies, offices, and universities, each providing important public services.

Eligible state employees are entitled to comprehensive benefits, including a variety of leave options, professional development opportunities, insurance, and more. To learn more about the benefits of being a North Carolina state employee, visit the N.C. Office of State Human Resources' website.

Permanent, temporary, and time-limited state government jobs can be found from the mountains to the coast. Find your next opportunity today!

Description of Work

Primary responsibilities for this Substance Abuse Counselor include the provision of case management services/aftercare planning for JFK-ADATC patients on ACU. Other duties include psychosocial assessments, counseling, crisis intervention, and psycho-educational groups.

The Substance Abuse Counselor works with patients who have substance abuse issues including acute and/or chronic crises related to lack of resources.

The Substance Abuse Counselor must have the ability to work with the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team which includes staff from medical, nursing, counseling/social work, recreational therapy, and education departments.

  • Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences
  • Recruitment Range: $43,267 to $75,718
  • Training and/or experience in a psychiatric or substance abuse facility
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, patients, families, community agencies, and other organizations

Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

If you are looking for a meaningful career working as part of a multi-disciplinary team that impacts lives, please consider the Substance Abuse Counselor position at the Julian F Keith Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center (JFKADATC) in Black Mountain.

Primary responsibilities for the Substance Abuse Counselor include the provision of case management services/discharge planning for JFK-ADATC patients. Other duties include assessments, counseling, crisis intervention, and psycho-educational groups.

The Substance Abuse Counselor works with patients who have substance abuse issues including acute and/or chronic crises related to lack of resources.

The Substance Abuse Counselor must have the ability to work with the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team which includes staff from medical, nursing, and social work departments.

Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with staff, patients, families, community agencies, and other organizations is necessary to provide quality services.

JFK ADATC is committed to the continuous professional development of our employees. We offer clinical supervision for LCSW, CADC, LCAS, LCMHC and CCS credentials; Continuing Education in Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, CRM, and more; and Work/Life Balance. JFK offers a 40-hour workweek with no on-call requirements and a shared caseload across a 9-person team.

As a state employee you are eligible for a variety of high-quality low-cost benefit options. State employees receive 12 paid holidays and earn 14 days of vacation leave and 12 days of sick leave annually. (Visit oshr.nc.gov for a more detailed description of our benefits).

NOTE: This is a generalized representation of positions in this class and is not intended to identify essential functions per ADA.

This position is scheduled for Monday - Friday (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM) with occasional evening and/or weekend shifts on a rotating schedule. This position requires working 3 to 4 holidays per year. This position is designated MANDATORY and must report or stay over during adverse weather events.

About the Facility

JFK is a 68-bed inpatient treatment facility designed to meet the needs of adults with substance use disorders from the 44 westernmost counties in North Carolina. The facility treats individuals with substance abuse and psychiatric diagnoses. JFK is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as a Behavioral Health facility and certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as an inpatient psychiatric hospital.

About the Division

The NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state with approximately 18,000 employees. DHHS is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

High school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Necessary Special Qualifications Credentialed as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), or as a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist – Associate (LCAS-A), or in an equivalent credential from a governing authority recognized by the NC Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board to practice under the provisions of the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Act.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter

Qandeel Murshin Chandler

Recruiter Email

QANDEEL.CHANDLER@DHHS.NC.GOV

Key Responsibilities

The Substance Abuse Counselor provides case management, discharge planning, and psychosocial assessments for patients at the JFK-ADATC facility. They also facilitate counseling, crisis intervention, and psycho-educational groups while collaborating with an interdisciplinary treatment team.

Requirements

Candidates must possess a high school diploma or GED and hold a professional credential such as CADC, LCAS-A, or an equivalent recognized by the NC Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board. Experience in a psychiatric or substance abuse facility is preferred.

Key Skills

Psychosocial assessmentSubstance abuse treatment

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 36% are remote, 40% have no call, 50% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$59k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $63k in an average-cost state. 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

How many Substance Use / Addiction Counselor jobs are remote?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.9 / 10 · top 25% in substance use / addiction counselorranked against 1,008 Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$43k–$76kSubstance Use / Addiction Counselor median $59k (middle half $55k–$71k)16 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$63k in purchasing powerNorth Carolina index 94.3 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Addiction Medicine listings in North Carolina52 active—live on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
All substance use / addiction counselor listings in North Carolina464 active12,761 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 36% remote · 40% no call · 50% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedNorth Carolina counselor listings (all specialties): 14% state a sign-on bonus (median $4k) · 15% offer loan repayment464 active listings, Nov 2026
New Addiction Medicine listings411 in the last 30 days227 the 30 days before (+81%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (1,008 Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page. North Carolina figures use all substance use / addiction counselors: too few North Carolina Addiction Medicine postings state pay.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Substance Abuse Counselor - JFK ADATC at State of North Carolina a 6.9 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Substance Use / Addiction Counselor — ranked against 1,008 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings on WeekdayDoc.

Top Counselor Jobs

33 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

33 jobs · 24 employers
18
<$75k
4
$75k-90k
7
$90k-105k
0
$105k-120k
4
$120k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

27 jobs · 24 employers
401k / retirement match
96%
Sign-on bonus
22%
CME allowance
19% this job
PSLF eligible
19%
Loan repayment
15%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW - LPCC - LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#2

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

LifeStance Health · Brookfield, Wisconsin

$92k-$125k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

$115k-$120k
#4

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

$115k-$120k
+ 31 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.9
Better work-life than 80% of Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings

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

  • Includes call
  • Includes weekends
State of North Carolina logo

About State of North Carolina

Government Administration
Raleigh, North Carolina
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

12 paid holidays
14 days vacation leave
12 days sick leave annually
Clinical supervision for LCSW, CADC, LCAS, LCMHC and CCS credentials
Continuing Education in Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, CRM
Work/Life Balance
40-hour workweek with no on-call requirements
Shared caseload across a 9-person team

Living in Black Mountain

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$478k≈ 11.0× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,873/mo≈ 52% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
21 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
96.5
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Asheville, NC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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