This research reviewed the available evidence on social work's contribution to supporting recovery for those with problem drug and/or alcohol use. The review also collated the available evidence on workforce development in this area as well as reviewing what is known about social work roles and training.

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Social work services and recovery from substance misuse: a review of the evidence.

Entering (n = 475) and graduating (n = 454) students at 3 master's of social work programs in the northeast were compared regarding their knowledge and attitudes concerning working with substance abusing clients. In comparison to entering students, graduating students demonstrated modestly higher levels of knowledge, role adequacy, and role legitimacy, but less desire to work with this population. A multivariate analysis revealed numerous factors that affected students' knowledge and attitudes: gender; ethnicity; exposure to substance abuse through family, friends, or self; taking a substance abuse course in an academic setting; having an internship in a substance abuse setting; substance abuse training outside of an academic setting; and exposure to substance abusers through employment. Implications of these findings for social work education are discussed.

The Effect of MSW Education on Students' Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Substance Abusing Clients.

Trends in the field of service among those with alcohol and other drug addictions highlight the urgent need for schools of social work to effectively train students to serve clients with substance ...

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Preparing Social Workers for Practice with LGBT Populations Affected by Substance Use: Perceptions from Students, Alumni, and Service Providers

Aims: To measure the attitudes of social care practitioners towards working with alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and to identify the factors which can be used to predict positive engagement.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 646 front-line social care practitioners in 11 English Local Authorities. The survey included an adapted version of the Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perceptions Questionnaire to measure overall therapeutic attitudes (OTAs). Using a principle component analysis, four attitudinal components were identified within the tool; role adequacy, role support, role legitimacy and role engagement.Findings: Analysis of 597 responses (sub-sample excluding specialists substance misuse workers) revealed an average OTA score of 4.68 (SD = 0.662; range: 1–7). The majority of scores (69%) fell in the middle range indicating that practitioners were neither positively nor negatively engaged with AOD-related work. Respondents reported more positive perceptions of role support and le...

Working with substance use: Levels and predictors of positive therapeutic attitudes across social care practitioners in England

Although researchers continue to generate knowledge concerning autism, few have investigated social workers’ understanding about this condition. In this exploratory study, we surveyed licensed soci...

An exploratory investigation of social workers’ knowledge and attitudes about autism

The granting of advanced standing status to bachelor of social work (BSW) students, exempting them from foundation study in master of social work (MSW) programs, has been controversial. The authors examined differences between recent MSW graduates who had received (n = 87) and not received (n = 124) advanced standing status regarding their perceived preparedness and perceived knowledge to work with substance abuse issues. No statistically significant differences in mean scores were found. However, mean scores for both groups were moderate to low. Implications for substance abuse education and advanced standing in social work education are discussed.

Diane Hall PhD Msw

Papers

Perceived Preparedness and Knowledge of Substance Abuse Among Recent MSW Graduates: Advanced Standing Revisited