Addiction is a powerful problem; more than 20 million Americans age 12 and older had a substance use disorder in 2015, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

As Scearce spoke with MASSAGE Magazine about her experience working in a specialty facility with this clientele, one word came up over and over again: rewarding.

“The greatest feeling is watching them on the journey that they take,” Scearce said. “It’s just extremely rewarding.”

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 3.5 million U.S. adults—1.4 percent of people 18 or older—received treatment for substance abuse; 2.3 million of those were treated at specialty facilities.

For massage therapists interested in providing massage for recovery from addiction, the substance abuse treatment environment offers unique benefits and challenges.

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