A Comprehensive Substance Abuse Counselor Education Program: From Specialty Certificate to Ph.D.

Abstract: PURPOSE To identify the cognitive processes nurses use in their decision-making in long- and short-term care settings in five countries, and the demographic variables associated with their decision-making. METHOD AND SAMPLES: The instrument used was a 56-item questionnaire that has been shown to be reliable in earlier studies. The sample consisted of five convenience samples of registered nurses working in either geriatric wards (n = 236) or acute medical-surgical wards (n = 223) in hospitals or nursing homes in Canada, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. FINDINGS Five models of decision-making were identified on the basis of factor analysis. They represent both analytical and intuitive cognitive processes. Analytical cognitive processes were emphasized in information collection, problem definition, and planning of care, and intuitive cognitive processes were emphasized in planning, implementing, and evaluating care. Professional education, practical experience, field of practice, and type of knowledge were significantly associated with decision-making models as well as with country of residence of the participants. The highest proportion of analytically oriented decision-makers was found among nurses in long-term care, the decision-making of nurses in short-term care was more intuitively oriented. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that decision-making of participants varied from country to country and in different nursing situations. Future research should be focused on reasons for these differences, the relationship between the task and the nurses' type of knowledge, and how nurses use their knowledge to make decisions in different nursing situations.

Abstract: This article reviews multidisciplinary literature to propose a structurally traumatized communities theoretical framework relating to three major topics: (a) addiction as an equal opportunity disease, (b) the psychology of marijuana use, and (c) anger and rage. From an ecological and structural perspective, the socially defined themes of stigma and stereotypes interplay with sociopolitical, historical, and cultural forces that contribute to substance use and addiction among African Americans and the treatment success gap that they experience in drug treatment. Empathy serves as an underlying mediating construct in clinical training and accreditation standards, inducing a systematic improvement in programmatic service delivery.

Abstract: Expectations of addiction counselors have changed over the past decade; however, preparation of addiction counselors has not kept pace, creating a deficit between the knowledge and skills required of today's addiction counselors and a workforce possessing such knowledge and skills.

Abstract: Many rehabilitation counselors specialize in some area of rehabilitation or counseling. This investigation surveys the types of specialty areas offered by master’s degree-level rehabilitation counselor education (RCE) programs in the United States. The majority (60 percent) of93 RCE programs in the United States offered specialty “concentrations,” “emphases,” or “certificates.” There were 29 different specialty areas offered by 56 RCE programs. The top areas identified were substance abuse counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and deafness and hearing impaired rehabilitation. The implications for RCE are discussed.

Abstract: Students from a master's program in Substance Abuse and Clinical Counseling (SACC) at a midsize southeastern university were surveyed to determine personal characteristics and career goals. Sixty-two of the 68 students currently enrolled in the program volunteered to anonymously complete the questionnaire. The typical profile of the SACC student was 30 years old (i.e., average age), white (85%) and female (68%) with a bachelor's degree in psychology (44%) and work experience in human services (60%). Eight-four percent of the students had a specific career goal. The top four goals were substance abuse counselor, clinical mental health counselor, substance abuse prevention specialist, and state agency rehabilitation counselor. Implications for substance abuse counselor education and recruitment are discussed.

Abstract: Yes, recovery is hard. Yes, you can do it. Yes, we will help you every step of the way. Peak Wellness Center offers proven treatment for substance abuse, based on the latest research and more than 50 years of experience helping people recover from addictions. The comprehensive services available through our private, non-profit clinics include residential and outpatient treatment options, long-term aftercare and special support for families.

Abstract: In addition to clinical outcomes, understanding the adoption and implementation of new treatment interventions is essential. This analysis was designed to assess the predictive utility of organization-level features in understanding the adoption and implementation of new technologies in substance abuse treatment. Naltrexone, which was found to be in current use in 44.1% of a national sample of 400 private substance abuse treatment centers, was selected as an appropriate sample technology for study. Adoption of naltrexone is significantly related to both the treatment center's age and its administrative leadership. Naltrexone adoption is also significantly associated with the percentage of the center's caseload covered by managed care programs and by the percentage of relapsers represented in the caseload. The analysis was less successful in predicting naltrexone implementation for either primary alcohol dependence or primary opiate addiction.

Abstract: In 1999, the National Institute on Drug Abuse established a researcher/provider partnership designed to test the effectiveness of research-based innovations in community-based treatment settings and facilitate the transfer of those innovations throughout the national treatment system. As a preliminary step in developing their local Clinical Trials Network, researchers and treatment providers within the Delaware Valley Node surveyed 317 staff members concerning their beliefs about addiction treatment. More than 80% of respondents supported increased use of research-based innovations, 12-step/traditional approaches, and spirituality in addiction treatment, while only 39% and 34%, respectively, endorsed the increased use of naltrexone and methadone maintenance. Also, 35% of respondents indicated that confrontation should be used more, and 46% agreed with discharging noncompliant patients. Individuals with more formal training tended to be less supportive of confrontation and more supportive of the increased use of medications. Implications for the clinical trials and technology transfer are discussed.

Abstract: PURPOSE To identify the cognitive processes nurses use in their decision-making in long- and short-term care settings in five countries, and the demographic variables associated with their decision-making. METHOD AND SAMPLES: The instrument used was a 56-item questionnaire that has been shown to be reliable in earlier studies. The sample consisted of five convenience samples of registered nurses working in either geriatric wards (n = 236) or acute medical-surgical wards (n = 223) in hospitals or nursing homes in Canada, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. FINDINGS Five models of decision-making were identified on the basis of factor analysis. They represent both analytical and intuitive cognitive processes. Analytical cognitive processes were emphasized in information collection, problem definition, and planning of care, and intuitive cognitive processes were emphasized in planning, implementing, and evaluating care. Professional education, practical experience, field of practice, and type of knowledge were significantly associated with decision-making models as well as with country of residence of the participants. The highest proportion of analytically oriented decision-makers was found among nurses in long-term care, the decision-making of nurses in short-term care was more intuitively oriented. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that decision-making of participants varied from country to country and in different nursing situations. Future research should be focused on reasons for these differences, the relationship between the task and the nurses' type of knowledge, and how nurses use their knowledge to make decisions in different nursing situations.

Abstract: Purpose: To identify the cognitive processes nurses use in their decision-making in long- and short-term care settings in five countries, and the demographic variables associated with their decision-making. Method and Samples: The instrument used was a 56-item questionnaire that has been shown to be reliable in earlier studies. The sample consisted of five convenience samples of registered nurses working in either geriatric wards (n = 236) or acute medical-surgical wards (n = 223) in hospitals or nursing homes in Canada, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Findings: Five models of decision-making were identified on the basis of factor analysis. They represent both analytical and intuitive cognitive processes. Analytical cognitive processes were emphasized in information collection, problem definition, and planning of care, and intuitive cognitive processes were emphasized in planning, implementing, and evaluating care. Professional education, practical experience, field of practice, and type of knowledge were significantly associated with decision-making models as well as with country of residence of the participants. The highest proportion of analytically oriented decision-makers was found among nurses in long-term care, the decision-making of nurses in short-term care was more intuitively oriented. Conclusions: The results indicate that decision-making of participants varied from country to country and in different nursing situations. Future research should be focused on reasons for these differences, the relationship between the task and the nurses' type of knowledge, and how nurses use their knowledge to make decisions in different nursing situations.