Substance abuse is a major social problem and concern for counselors. It is the most prevalent mind disorder encompassing some 40% of the diagnoses in the DSM-IV, the number one continuing health problem, and the number one prison problem in the United States. Yet, school, rehabilitation, and mental health counselor education programs do not require expertise in this area as a prerequisite to receiving a degree. This digest focuses on identification of counseling outcome research implications for counseling individuals with substance abuse problems and highlights the following conclusions regarding counseling individuals with substance abuse problems: (1) All counselors will counsel individuals with presenting or related problems of substance abuse; (2) Counselors counsel and empower individuals with substance abuse problems versus treating the substance abuse problem; (3) Counselors must be able to establish the same open, collaborative, and therapeutic relationship in counseling individuals with substance abuse problems as they do with other client populations; (4) Counselors must focus the counseling relationship on addressing the client's presenting problems directly and identifying client need for change (5) Counselors must know community resources and procedures for referral to be able to insure access to effective and appropriate support services for clients. (Contains 4 references.) (JDM)