The Therapeutic Attitudes and Behavior of Social Work Clinicians With and Without Substance Abuse Training

Abstract

This study examines the influence of substance abuse training on social workers in nonaddiction treatment settings. Eighty-one Masters level social workers who completed a 9-month training program were compared with a matched sample of 78 Masters level social workers who did not enroll, with supervisors as collateral informants. Subjects and supervisors were blind to the purpose of the study. Measures included behavior, clinical skills, and self-rated attitudes. After training, trainees were significantly more likely than comparisons to 1) work with substance-abusing clients, 2) have “substance abuse”-related roles, 3) seek jobs that increased their opportunities to work with substance-abusing clients, 4) assess and intervene with substance abuse, and 5) obtain high ratings of optimism, confidence, and competence.