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Widespread prescription drug abuse is boosting demand for addiction recovery counselors. On Thumbtack, searches for addiction recovery counselors have jumped 300% from last year.

Warren Schloss owns a Narberth, Penn.-based private practice that specializes in addiction counseling. He started out in the field 19 years ago as a volunteer at a rehab center. "There I realized I had the skill set to make me pretty good at it," he said.

He decided to get formal training. Four years later, he was a certified addiction recovery counselor. He worked as a counselor for 17 years at various centers, then two years ago, started his own practice.

For anyone that's interested in becoming a recovery counselor, Schloss suggests volunteering first to make sure they can handle the challenges.

"You can't get anyone sober, and keep them sober," Schloss observes."They have to do the work themselves. It's important to learn how to separate yourself from clients and still give them your best input."

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