Can a Course Change Social Work Students’ Attitudes toward Harm Reduction as a Treatment Option for Substance Use Disorders?

ABSTRACT

With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, health care workers will need skills in engaging and treating increased numbers of Americans seeking help for substance use disorders (SUDs). Unfortunately, students in social work and related fields have been found to hold negative views of persons experiencing an SUD. This study examined whether a 15-week course changed graduate social work students’ attitudes regarding persons with SUDs and the philosophy and practice of harm reduction. Results indicated that, though students’ beliefs about harm reduction approaches were more positive after completing the course, there was no change in student attitudes toward those who struggle with SUDs.

KEYWORDS:

• substance use disorders treatment
• harm reduction
• social work students
• curriculum
• attitudes