Closing the gap in substance use disorder treatment through paraprofessional counselor training

ABSTRACT

There is currently an insufficient supply of licensed substance use disorder counselors (SUDCs) to meet demand for services and the gap between supply and demand is projected to grow. Paraprofessional SUDCs offer one path to helping close this gap. The current study presents outcomes from a paraprofessional SUDC certificate program for Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students. Student data (N = 66) were used to examine pre- to post-program changes in generalized SUDC knowledge and pre- to posttest changes in knowledge and self-efficacy from evidence-based workshops. Paired sample t-tests indicated that program participation significantly increased generalized SUDC knowledge. Participation in workshops significantly increased knowledge of motivational interviewing, integrative medicine, harm reduction, and grief and loss and self-efficacy related to integrative medicine and harm reduction. BSW students gain generalized and treatment-specific knowledge via participation in a SUDC certificate program. The deployment of paraprofessional SUDCs may provide one strategy to reduce treatment gaps

KEYWORDS:

• change challenges for social work
• paraprofessional training
• substance use disorder counselors
• substance use disorder treatment
• treatment gaps

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Notice of duplicate publication: Closing the gap in substance use disorder treatment through paraprofessional counselor training

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under M01HP31280 and Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.