Social Workers' Knowledge and Perceptions of Effectiveness and Acceptability of Medication Assisted Treatment of Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

Data from a national study of 345 privately funded, community-based substance use disorder (SUD) treatment centers were used to investigate social workers' knowledge, perceptions of effectiveness, and perceptions of the acceptability of medication assisted treatments (MATs) for SUDs. Results reveal the importance of exposure to MATs for social workers to develop a knowledge base regarding the effectiveness of various pharmacological agents. Results also underline the importance of social workers' perceptions of effectiveness in forming opinions regarding the acceptability of the use of MATs in SUD treatment. Lastly, a 12-Step orientation toward treatment has a negative influence on social workers' opinions regarding the acceptability of MATs.

Keywords:

• substance abuse treatment
• evidence-based practice
• social workers
• knowledge
• attitudes
• medication

Acknowledgments

The project described was supported by Award Numbers K01DA024718 (Bride) and R01DA013110 (Roman) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or the National Institutes of Health.