The Role of Social Workers in the Treatment of Addictions

Stigmatizing Clients With Mental Health Conditions: An Assessment of Social Work Student Attitudes

“…Specified education and training might modify these perceptions. Despite the potential importance of education that social workers receive – particularly in addictions – training in this area is often inadequate (Hall, Amodeo, Shaffer & Vander Bilt, 2000; Straussner, 2001; Weissman et al, 2006). In an assessment of clinicians, Weissman and colleagues (2006) found that social workers had the least training in evidence based practice in psychotherapy when compared to psychiatrists and psychologists.…”

Beyond the Disease Model: Reframing the Etiology of Alcoholism From a Spiritual Perspective

“…Canda and Furman (1999) noted the increased interest in spirituality among social work educators and practitioners. Given the prominent historical role of social workers in the treatment of alcoholism (Straussner, 2001), the social work profession is well positioned to be at the forefront of developing new conceptualizations of alcoholism that include spirituality. In addition, social work educators are being called on to examine how social problems such as alcoholism need to be viewed from a transpersonal framework, as the individual and social problems that confront social work reside in the spiritual dimension of human functioning (Cowley, 1993).…”

“…In her seminal work on social diagnosis, Richmond (1917) characterized inebriety (or what we might call alcoholism today) as a disease that required a medical diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment approach. Social workers have subsequently become more involved in research, administration, policymaking, and program development domains (Straussner, 2001) in addition to treatment provision. In recognition of the increasingly important role that social workers will continue to play in the alcoholism field, the National Association of Social Workers (2005) began offering a specialty practice section on alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, where social workers can access information on screening and assessment, counseling, referrals, case management, research, education, and advocacy.…”

Social Workers and Brief Interventions: A Research-Informed Response to Changing Views on Marijuana

“…Over the past century, social workers have worked with individuals and families involved with misusing substances in a variety of settings (Straussner, 2001). With the development of research-informed approaches to identifying and intervening with substance users in almost any setting, social workers are in the ideal position to address such issues given their prominent roles in many of these settings including medical, behavioral health, criminal justice, education, and family preservation services.…”