Perspectives on staff resistance to using the ASI

Abstract

The paper highlights a number of reasons as to why the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), despite having been introduced in Sweden in 1996, has not been more widely accepted by addiction clinicians within social services and healthcare. The author draws on several years' experience of being responsible for the introduction, training and implementation of the ASI in a large catchment area in the southern part of Stockholm. Various problems are identified and discussed. The key role of managers in the addiction services, in planning training and facilitating implementation, is emphasized. It is suggested that, while the ASI is a “good enough” clinical instrument, its use by healthcare and social service addiction units often draws attention to the need of training in other areas—for example motivational interviewing and treatment planning.

• ASI
• training
• implementation