Integrating Alcohol and Other Drug Content in the Social Work Curriculum: Practices and Perceived Barriers

Abstract

This study provides up-to-date information on the practices and barriers faced by 50 clinical faculty from 29 Council on Social Work Education-accredited master’s in social work programs across the United States in the integration of alcohol and other drug (AOD) content into social work education. Faculty report that AOD-related content is covered only superficially in their instruction in an array of life course, social environmental, and health-related content areas. Additionally, faculty consider AOD-related content to be insufficiently integrated into their social work programs, particularly in the foundation curriculum. Lack of faculty knowledge or expertise and limited space in the curriculum were identified as key barriers to AOD-related content integration.