The course utilizes material gleaned from empirical research, consensus "best practice" panels, guidelines propagated by the "Research to Practice" initiatives of the National Institute of Health, and current thinking in the field. It attempts to integrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for effective treatment of substance abusers and utilizes a format in which review questions, exercises, and illustrative vignettes are integrated throughout. While some strategic review is provided at the outset of the content, the assumption is made that the reader possesses basic knowledge of alcohol and drug abuse and assessment.

Effective treatment of substance use disorders may occur in the individual or group session with a clinician, within treatment programs or community, or between the individual and his/her God; however, effective treatment always utilizes social supports. Therefore, the therapist must be prepared to adopt flexible roles as clinician, case manager, educator, advisor, supporter, and/or guide. Addiction is a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual affliction and must be confronted with an equally comprehensive response. This course is written to help prepare readers to do just that. Throughout both modules, the terms addicted clients, AOD clients, and substance abusing clients will be used interchangeably (although not with strict accuracy).

Module I: Strategic Review, Issues, and Evidence-Based Approaches

This first module provides a strategic review of key concepts and issues, presents techniques with demonstrated effectiveness, and explores ways to confront countertransference issues.

Module 2: Treatment Strategies Utilized with Various Client Populations

The second module explores treatment issues as related to various substance abusing adult populations. The groups that are looked at in this module include African-Americans, Latinos, Women, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals.

As a result of taking this course, registrants should:

1. Understand the difference between treatment and recovery as well as the ideal relationship between the two.



2. Be familiar with factors affecting positive outcomes in the treatment of substance abusers and be able to translate these into a series of what to do and what not to do in the clinical setting.



3. Be familiar with the developmental model of recovery, the tasks faced by clients at each stage, and techniques for helping clients with these tasks.



4. Understand the role of motivational enhancement in the treatment and recovery process and learn techniques for enhancing client motivation.



5. Understand the role of relapse in recovery, be able to help clients identify relapse triggers, and help them develop effective strategies for dealing with these triggers.



6. Understand the principles of 12-Step groups, how they work, and be able to help clients to engage in these processes when appropriate.

The material on the models of addiction and on motivation was substantially adapted from the public domain source: Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Abuse Treatment: Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 35, William R. Miller, PhD, Consensus Panel Chair. Complete citations can be found there and interested persons are urged to obtain this free government document from the following agency: