A professional social worker plays an important role in the management of substance abuse because substance use is not merely a medical problem but also a psychological, social, familial, and behavioural issue. From the perspective of the psychological basis of counselling, the social worker helps individuals understand the causes and consequences of substance use and supports them in developing healthier patterns of behaviour. The first role of a social worker is assessment. The social worker collects information about the person's substance-use history, family relationships, emotional condition, peer group, social environment, education, employment, and previous treatment experiences. Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, loneliness, trauma, and poor coping skills are also explored.