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Over the past two decades, increasing emphasis has been placed on evidence-based practice (EBP) in the social work literature. At the core of the EBP movement is the philosophical position [...]

The purpose of this study was to examine factors that may be associated with variation in social workers' perceptions of effectiveness, perceptions of acceptability, and use of psychosocial evidence-based practices (EBPs) for the treatment of substance use disorders (SLID) in comparison to other SUD counselors who are non-social workers. A national sample of 1,140 counselors in private SUD treatment settings completed a mailed survey. Overall, counselors perceive both motivational interviewing (MI) and contingency management (CM) to be effective and acceptable interventions, with MI perceived to be both more effective and more acceptable than CM. The results of this study also shed light on the factors associated with perceptions of effectiveness and acceptability of MI and CM. The results of this study underscore the importance of exposure to EBPs in the development of positive attitudes toward and use of EBPs. In particular, professional networks are an important route to introduce social workers to EBPs, as is professional training on specific EBPs. Efforts to increase the uptake of evidence-based SUD interventions should not be limited to dissemination of information regarding effectiveness; rather, efforts should also be expended to expose social workers to EBPs. KEY WORDS: attitudes; evidence-based practice; knowledge; social workers; substance abuse treatment, Emphasis on the identification and use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) is increasingly prominent in social work and in the substance use disorders (SUD) treatment field, yet uptake of psychosocial interventions [...]

In recent years, social workers in both academic and clinical settings have focused on improving the quality of end-of-life care by closely examining the psychosocial needs of the dying person [...]

HIV/AIDS has changed drastically since the introduction of life-saving drugs known as highly active antiretroviral treatment. These same drugs have created a schism between the haves and the have-nots in society. The demographics of the disease have also changed alongside treatment. This article explores the changing face of HIV/AIDS in the 21st century by using the work of political scientist Harold Lasswell. Lasswell has provided a theoretical framework in which to view an epidemic that is deeply affecting communities of color. This framework further accentuates the need for social workers to do more work in the area of HIV/AIDS within communities of color. KEY WORDS: communities of color; Harold Lasswell; HIV/AIDS; politics; social work, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2008), more than 1.2 million people in the United States are believed to be living with HIV/AIDS, and more than [...]

Social workers are increasingly being called on to assist survivors of childhood abuse, domestic violence, violent crime, disasters, and war and terrorism. It has become increasingly apparent that the psychological effects of traumatic events extend beyond those directly affected. Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is becoming viewed as an occupational hazard of providing direct services to traumatized populations. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of STS in a sample of social workers by examining the frequency of individual symptoms; the frequency with which diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are met; and the severity of STS levels. Results indicate that social workers engaged in direct practice are highly likely to be secondarily exposed to traumatic events through their work with traumatized populations, many social workers are likely to experience at least some symptoms of STS, and a significant minority may meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. KEY WORDS: compassion fatigue; PTSD; secondary trauma; vicarious trauma, In the United States, the lifetime prevalence of exposure to traumatic events ranges from 40 percent to 81 percent, with 60.7 percent of men and 51.2 percent of women having [...]

Through 2001, 495,592 people were reported to be living with HIV infection or AIDS in the United States (CDC, 2001). Between 1999 and 2000 the estimated number of people living [...]

Despite the fact that the disease model of alcoholism has lost its status as paradigm in international circles, the alcoholism research and treatment community in the United States maintains steadfast [...]

Increasing emphasis has been placed on the development of gender-specific treatment programs to address the unique needs of women substance abusers. Some authors have suggested that this task can be [...]

Substance abuse among people with HIV may have a negative effect on quality of life, use of health services, adherence to medication regimens, and health outcomes (Bing et al., 2001). [...]

A 17-item instrument is designed to describe the development and validation of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS). It was concluded that the STSS fills the need for reliable and valid instruments specifically designed to measure the negative effects of social work practice with traumatized populations.