Substance abuse assessment and treatment: The current training and practice of APA Division 22 members.

Abstract

To determine the preparedness of rehabilitation psychologists to work with people with disabilities with primary or secondary substance-related problems by examining their education, training, and current practice. Design: Mail survey. Participants: 76 (47 men, 29 women) Division 22 members of the American Psychological Association. Results: Although 79% of respondents reported treating individuals with alcohol and other drug issues, over half rated their training in substance abuse treatment as inadequate. Referring to self-help groups and instilling cognitive-behavioral coping skills were common treatments. Participants reported a lack of preparation in substance abuse training in their graduate program coursework, practicum, and internship. Conclusion: Continuing education and changes to curriculum requirements, with linkage to existing certification bodies, should be considered to close the gap between training and practice.

Integrating SBIRT training into graduate programs for mental health service providers.

“…Indeed, the majority of social workers, mental health counselors, and psychologists receive no training in substance use or its treatment (Dimoff, Sayette, & Norcross, 2017;Madson, Bethea, Daniel, & Necaise, 2008;Wilkey, Lundgren, & Amodeo, 2013). As a result, most mental health providers feel inadequately trained and in fact do lack the competency needed to treat this population (Burrow-Sánchez, Call, Adolphson, & Hawken, 2009;Cardoso, Pruett, Chan, & Tansey, 2006;Madson et al, 2008). The results of a study of clients seeking outpatient services for depression who also reported hazardous drinking or drug use underscored the low frequency with which mental health providers intervene with substance use (Satre, Leibowitz, Mertens, & Weisner, 2014).…”

In the rooms and on the couch: Psychoanalytic work with patients in AA.

“…Currently, substance misuse remains prevalent in the United States, with recent estimates indicating that 25% of people over the age of 18 binge drank in the past month, and 7% binge drank on at least five occasions in the past month (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2016). While many struggling with substance use do not actively seek out help (Landau et al, 2000; Regier et al, 1993), rates of problematic drinking are high enough that most therapists (more than 80%) have encountered such individuals in clinical practice (Cardoso et al, 2006; Cellucci & Vik, 2001).…”

“…Once in treatment, however, there are significant barriers impacting the potential for successful treatment. First, training in this area has not improved significantly, with a recent study finding that the majority of recent psychology graduates feel they lack competency in working with this population (Cardoso et al, 2006). Second, and paradoxically, psychologists’ continued perception of substance use disorders as falling outside of traditional mental health services and needing to be served in specialized treatment settings has largely prevented a patient population with particularly acute needs from being treated by mental health professionals with the highest level of training (Cellucci & Vik, 2001).…”

“…Working with such individuals demands that we attend to various discrepancies in the underlying frameworks of psychoanalysis and AA, which have the potential to generate significant challenges. However, gaps remain in the psychoanalytic literature as well as in training programs regarding how to work with this population (Cardoso, Pruett, Chan, & Tansey, 2006; Trub & Levy, 2017). Thus, rooted in clinical work and supervision of cases where AA or 12-step involvement played a role, this paper aims to address these gaps, and to facilitate awareness and stimulate curiosity around biases, countertransference dynamics, and fundamental differences in how the two paradigms conceptualize substance misuse, which can complicate or impede successful treatment.…”

Structure of the SOC-13 in Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Clients: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

“…Employees with alcohol and other drug abuse issues also cost their employers about twice as much in medical and workers' compensation claims as their employees without alcohol and other drug abuse issues (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2006). The prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse among persons with traumatic disabilities (e.g., traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries) and psychiatric disabilities is also a salient issue in rehabilitation (Cardoso, Pruett, Chan, & Tansey, 2006).…”