Substance Abuse Counselors Research Articles

The Powerless‐Empowerment Scale: Measurement of Substance Abuse Counseling Orientation

The authors describe the development of an instrument to measure substance abuse counseling orientations. The Powerless‐Empowerment Scale, which was developed by investigating its reliability and viability, demonstrated initial promise as an instrument that can be used in a variety of settings in the substance abuse field.

Supervision of Substance Abuse Counselors Using the Integrated Developmental Model

Little has been written about the supervision of substance abuse counselors. Even less has been written about the application of supervision models in substance abuse counseling. The supervision of substance abuse counselors has been described as vague, fragmented and even nonexistent. In order to provide effective supervision of substance abuse counselors, it would be helpful for the supervisor to use an existing model of supervision. This paper will apply the 3 overriding structures (self and other awareness, motivation, and autonomy) of the Integrated Developmental Model of clinical supervision to substance abuse counselors. Special attention will be placed on the unique issues of substance abuse counseling and their implications on clinical supervision.

Substance abuse counselors' experiences with victims of incest.

Counselors delivering substance abuse treatment from within 39 treatment facilities throughout the United States were surveyed using the Substance Abuse Counselor Survey on Clients with Incest Histories (SACSCIH). The sample of 114 participants reported upon experiences and perceptions related to their incest-related training, identification of incest victims, prevalence of incest victims on their caseloads, and referral and treatment practices. Additionally, group comparisons provided information on differences based upon participants' gender, educational degree, recovery status, and experience with incest counseling.

Attitudes Toward Compulsory Substance Abuse Treatment: a comparison of the public, conselors, probationers and judges' views

Attitudes toward compulsory treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse were compared among a representative sample drawn from the general public (N = 994) and convenience samples of substance abuse counselors (N = 700), probationers (N = 35) and judges (N = 89). All respondents believed that compulsory substance abuse treatment is (a) less effective than voluntary treatment and (b) most justified only for individuals whose substance use was associated with serious crimes and impaired job performance. In addition, the general public reported significantly higher support for compulsory treatment and expected forced treatment to help significantly more individuals, compared to probationers and substance abuse counselors. Judges and the general public were significantly less likely to respect client choices about whether or not to engage in treatment compared to probationers and substance abuse counsellors. These results suggest that broad implementation of compulsory substance abuse treatment policies and programs would not be uniformly supported across key stakeholders. Implications of the findings for substance abuse policy, programming and theory are discussed.

Substance abuse counsellor's attitudes regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered clients.

The attitudes of substance abuse counselors can have significant effects on their client's recovery. This study examined the attitudes and knowledge of substance abuse counselors regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) clients. 242 substance abuse counselors in Iowa completed mail-in questionnaires. The counselors reported very little formal education regarding the needs of these clients, and nearly half had negative or ambivalent attitudes. Respondents had the greatest negativity regarding transgendered clients and reported knowing the least about this group. Counselors frequently lacked knowledge about the legal issues of these clients, the concepts of domestic partnership and internalized homophobia, and family issues. Substance abuse counselors require more education about LGBT clients.

Attitudes Toward Substance Abuse Treatment Among Probation and Parole Officers

Despite the high incidence of substance abuse problems among offenders, a large proportion of community corrections clients do not receive services addressing these concerns. Training probation and parole officers (PPOs) to provide addiction counselling has been suggested as one way of increasing the accessibility of treatment; however, there is a gap in the literature with respect to the factors influencing the successful dissemination of alcohol and drug training to this population. The present study reports on the results of data collected during a series of seven Structured Relapse Prevention training workshops offered to PPOs in Ontario, Canada. The study found that although the majority of PPOs supported the application of substance abuse counselling in probation and parole offices, time and caseload constraints were major obstacles to implementation.

The Relationship Among Substance Abuse Counselors' Spiritual Well‐Being, Values, and Self‐Actualizing Characteristics and the Impact on Clients' Spiritual Well‐Being

This study explored the relationship between scores on the Spiritual Well‐Being Scale and subscales from the Rokeach Value Survey and the Personal Orientation Inventory of substance abuse counselors in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This study also examined the impact of counselors' spiritual well‐being on the spiritual well‐being of patients in their clinical care. The results indicated that the values of wisdom and loving from the Rokeach Value Survey and self‐acceptance from the Personal Orientation Inventory accounted for approximately half of the spiritual well‐being variance. These variables could be used as indicators in the supervisory process, could help promote substance abuse counselors' spiritual well‐being, and could educate counselors on burnout prevention. Follow‐up findings indicated a statistically significant change score on patients' pretest and posttest scores on the Spiritual Well‐Being Scale, indicating an increase in patients' spiritual wellbeing while in inpatient addiction treatment.

The Practical Art of Suicide Assessment: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals and Substance Abuse Counselors

The Practical Art of Suicide Assessment: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals and Substance Abuse Counselors

Clinical Judgments of High-Risk Behavior During Recovery

This study utilized focus group research to explore high-risk behavior during recovery from drugs and alcohol. Participants in the focus group were professional substance abuse counselors. The findings identified specific high-risk behaviors and began an exploration of the processes that support them. Specific information is included on such issues as causes, time frames, developmental issues, and other factors associated with high-risk behavior. Attention was paid to existential issues in recovery, as well as childhood factors such as sexual abuse. High-risk behavior was seen as a means to avoid the existential dilemma of continuing in recovery or returning to drug use and as a possible means to leave this crisis unresolved without actual relapse to drug use, or dealing with the issues of advancing in recovery.

Using the Addiction Severity Index to Predict Treatment Outcome Among Substance Abusing Parolees

One month after their release from incarceration, 224 drug abuser parolees assigned to routine parole procedures enhanced by weekly drug abuse counseling and urine monitoring were administered the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) to determine the ability of the ASI to predict substance abuse treatment outcome during the first year of parole in terms of: (1) participation in treatment; (2) the occurrence of major infractions; (3) drug use; and (4) employment. Results revealed the prominence of two problem areas, Employment and Drug Use, in the predicting of outcome. Parolees with no initially identifiable problems in these areas were more likely to experience favorable outcome at the end of the year.

Substance Abuse Counselors with and without a Personal History of Chemical Dependency

The author reviews existing research on differences between substance abuse counselors that do and do not have a personal history of chemical addiction. Following extensive database searches, 16 studies were found that addressed the issue of differences based on counselor recovery status. Conclusions are made based on the literature review and the author calls for a shift in research agendas to begin exploring differences in the counseling process of recovering and non-recovering substance abuse counselors.

The Practical Art of Suicide Assessment: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals and Substance Abuse Counselors

The Practical Art of Suicide Assessment: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals and Substance Abuse Counselors

Linking Substance-Abusing Pregnant Women to Drug Treatment Services: A Pilot Program

To conduct a pilot study to assist pregnant substance abusers to enter drug treatment. A nonexperimental design provided eligible women with outreach/home visits from a team led by a public health nurse. All services for the women were provided in homes in the northeastern United States. Ten pregnant substance-abusing women who were not in drug treatment upon entry into prenatal care enrolled in the project. Home visits by a public health nurse were provided to the women to jointly develop a plan of care targeted to each woman's needs. A substance abuse counselor was available as a consultant and for home visits. An interdisciplinary team met monthly to coordinate services, discuss therapeutic approaches and treatment strategies, and address needed changes in the health services system. Rates of entry into substance abuse treatment, retention of custody of the index child, and scores on the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Although the expected rate of entry into treatment was 10%, 90% of the women (n = 9) entered treatment. All had full-term newborns. Eighty percent (n = 8) retained custody of the index child. Upon the participants' enrollment, ASI scores indicated a moderate to extreme problem with alcohol and drug use for all women, and moderate to extreme psychiatric problems for 89% of the women. Subsequent ASI scores demonstrated marked improvement in all three subscales. This project provides strategies that nurses can use to assist substance-abusing pregnant women to enter drug treatment.

Coerced Substance Abuse Counseling Revisited

This is another look at the practice of coerced substance abuse counseling. The practice is discussed from a research, practice, ethical, and theoretical perspective. Based on the discussion, the practice of coerced counseling is highly unprofessional.

The Benefits of a Self‐Efficacy Approach to Substance Abuse Counseling in the Era of Managed Care

This article examines the clinical value of self‐efficacy theory for substance abuse counselors practicing in a managed care environment. The authors delineate how a self‐efficacy approach can be adapted to provide time‐limited or brief therapy substance abuse counseling.

Juvenile Corrections in Indiana

This article argues that the growing trend toward tough penalties in corrections is not the solution to juvenile violence. Rather, the policy to increased violence should take account of research and common sense, which suggests a focus on the home and community. Children are forced to become independent and competitive too soon. Instead, emphasis should be placed on the process, not the product. We need to support mentoring programs; community schools with facilities available after hours; family preservation programs; individual and family counseling services; substance abuse counseling and treatment; and continuing education programs. Also important is interagency cooperation rather than competition. (Abstract Adapted from Source: The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 2000. Copyright © 2000 by SAGE Publications) School Violence Juvenile Violence Juvenile Offender Juvenile Justice System Indiana Violence Prevention Prevention Recommendations Mentoring Family Preservation Individual Counseling Family Counseling 04-00

Juvenile Corrections in Indiana

This article argues that the growing trend toward tough penalties in corrections is not the solution to juvenile violence. Rather, policy addressing increased violence should take account of research, which suggests a focus on the home and community. Children are forced to become independent and competitive too soon. Instead, emphasis should be placed on the process, not the product. We need to support mentoring programs; community schools with facilities available after hours; family preservation programs; individual and family counseling services; substance abuse counseling and treatment; and continuing education programs. Also important is interagency cooperation rather than competition.

Highlights of the 1999 Institute on Psychiatric Services

Highlights of the 1999 Institute on Psychiatric Services

Smoking Cessation in Drug Treatment Programs

Substance abusers are more likely to smoke cigarettes than the general population. Yet, in most drug treatment programs smoking cessation receives little attention. The purposes of this study were to: (1) examine substance abuse counselors' attitudes toward and practices related to nicotine addiction and smoking cessation treatment; and (2) describe barriers to smoking cessation treatment and smoking policies in substance abuse treatment facilities. A total of 254 substance abuse counselors in Kentucky completed mailed questionnaires (53% response rate). Almost one-fourth were current smokers. Smoking and nonsmoking counselors differed in their attitudes toward nicotine addiction, barriers to treatment, and satisfaction with smoking cessation training. Few counselors routinely followed the clinical preventive guidelines with nicotine-dependent clients. However, they were receptive to providing smoking cessation treatment. Over half of the drug treatment programs banned indoor smoking, but permitted smoking on facility grounds. Implications for policy change by national addiction certification and licensing organizations and state accreditation authorities are discussed.

Clinical Supervision of Substance Abuse Counselors: Current and Preferred Practices

A national survey of substance abuse counselors (N = 134) was conducted to learn their current and preferred supervision practices. Results are presented for the entire sample, as well as within‐group comparisons based on counselor recovery status and education level.