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Screening instruments for substance abuse can be expeditious and effective clinical tools. A training needs assessment conducted with a randomly selected sample of substance abuse treatment providers (n = 1684) in licensed facilities in New England identified the adequacy of training, interest in training, clinical skill, and training need in the use of 13 substance abuse screening instruments. The results revealed that New England substance abuse treatment providers are not skilled in the use of screening instruments and have a high level of training need in this area. Differences in screening skill were found among the New England states. In addition, women and those with less treatment experience have lower screening skill; similarly, women, those having less experience in the field, and social workers and nurses evidenced higher training need in screening. The discussion considers skill, adequacy of training, training interest, and training need. The conclusion suggests that one approach to the coexisting increased need for screening skills due to managed care requirements and the lack of interest in these skills is to study managed care marketplace demands to determine training priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the development of the Index of Training Need (ITN) that measures substance abuse treatment provider training needs in New England. Functions of ITN; Factor analysis of the dimensions of ITN; Patterns of need; Conceptual basis of the ITN; ITN applications.