Addiction treatment workforce: Counselor credentials, training and innovation

Addiction treatment workforce: Counselor credentials, training and innovation J. Aaron Johnson, Ph.D. Lori J. Ducharme, Ph.D. Sarah Henderson, M.A. Center for Research on Behavioral Health and Human Services Delivery The University of Georgia Funded by NIDA Grants: R01-DA13110, R01-DA14482, R01-DA14976

Professionalization of AddictionTreatment Workforce • Traditionally addiction treatment counselors were recovering addicts, often graduates of program in which they were employed • Numerous factors led to professionalization of workforce • Today, nearly half have Master’s degrees • More than half are either certified and/or licensed as addictions counselors • Significant differences in level of professionalization in publicly funded and privately funded programs Funded by NIDA Grants: R01-DA13110, R01-DA14482, R01-DA14976

Professionalization and Evidence-based Practice • Addiction treatment traditionally based on the 12-step model. Research suggests adherence to 12-step model may impede innovation. • Many new techniques, including FDA approval of several pharmacotherapies, have recently emerged. • Educating and training clinical staff on new techniques may remove barriers to innovation by changing attitudes. Funded by NIDA Grants: R01-DA13110, R01-DA14482, R01-DA14976

Research Question • To what extent are there differences between publicly and privately funded centers in regards to counselor credentials and training? • What impact does counselor credentials and training have on perceived effectiveness and acceptability of selected new treatment techniques? • What are the implications for adoption of new treatment techniques? Funded by NIDA Grants: R01-DA13110, R01-DA14482, R01-DA14976

Data and Methods • The National Treatment Center Study • Nationally representative samples of publicly and privately funded addiction treatment programs (N=763) • Counselor data via mail questionnaire from counselors employed in these programs (N=2296) • Counselor Response rate = 61% Funded by NIDA Grants: R01-DA13110, R01-DA14482, R01-DA14976

Counselor Demographics Funded by NIDA Grants: R01-DA13110, R01-DA14482, R01-DA14976

Counselor Credentials and Training Funded by NIDA Grants: R01-DA13110, R01-DA14482, R01-DA14976

Specific Training on SelectEvidence-based Practice (Scale = 1 to 7) Funded by NIDA Grants: R01-DA13110, R01-DA14482, R01-DA14976

Relationship b/w Training and Perceived Effectiveness/ Acceptability of Therapies(Bivariate Regression Coefficients) Funded by NIDA Grants: R01-DA13110, R01-DA14482, R01-DA14976

Relationship b/w Education and Perceived Effectiveness/ Acceptability of Therapies(Bivariate Regression Coefficients) Funded by NIDA Grants: R01-DA13110, R01-DA14482, R01-DA14976

Conclusions • Significant differences b/w counselors employed in public and private treatment programs. • Public Centers • Demographics - more racially diverse, employ higher proportion of females, have significantly lower salaries • Credentials – lower % with MA or certification, fewer years of experience in field • Training – more training hours, but less training on pharmacotherapies Funded by NIDA Grants: R01-DA13110, R01-DA14482, R01-DA14976

Conclusions (cont.) • Both training on specific techniques and overall levels of education shown to increase perceptions of effectiveness and acceptability for new techniques, particularly pharmacotherapies. • Significant differences in education levels and training in public centers could make it more difficult to move research into practice in these settings. Funded by NIDA Grants: R01-DA13110, R01-DA14482, R01-DA14976

Addiction treatment workforce: Counselor credentials, training and innovation