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Objectives: This study examines three preparatory strategies that can be used during treatment sessions to bridge the gap between clinician recommendations for client participation in 12-step programs (TSPs) and client adherence to such recommendations. Methods: A sample of 284 clinicians completed an online survey. Clinicians responded to items measuring their willingness to motivate client participation in TSPs, integrate 12-step principles into sessions, and form positive attitudes toward 12-step culture. Analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: Clinician attitudes toward 12-step culture had a significant effect on clinician willingness to motivate client participation in TSPs. Clinician attitudes toward 12-step culture also mediated the effect of integrating 12-step principles into treatment sessions on willingness to motivate client participation in TSPs. Conclusions: Because positive attitudes toward 12-step culture play a central role in the referral-making process, it is recommended that clinicians cultivate positive attitudes toward 12-step culture.

There are many challenges to treating people for a substance use disorder. This study focuses on factors that might predict how long people stay in treatment, and whether it is enough time to complete treatment. Using data from a statewide subsample of the TEDS-D dataset, the results showed that free treatment leads to increased length of stay, while substance use frequency and days waiting to enter treatment have a negative effect on length of stay. Further length of stay predicted treatment completion. We also conducted a post hoc analysis looking at differences between inpatient and outpatient treatment settings. This study offers information that can support efforts to keep clients long enough in treatment to complete it as part of their recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legally mandated substance use treatment is prevalent but controversial and further research aimed at understanding this relationship is important for developing and informing social policy, social work practice, and education. This study used clinical data mining to examine the relationship between a client's legal involvement, treatment engagement, and treatment completion. By using structural equation modeling, this study found that legal involvement did not have an effect on clients' engagement in treatment or on completing treatment, while engagement was shown to have an effect on whether the client completed treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-learning has become an important part of training in a growing number of social work programs. Evidence-based models such as Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT) expand prevention efforts and help social workers screen for risk factors and existing substance use disorders in a variety of health-care settings. The purpose of this study was to assess one e-learning platform, Kognito, and examine the efficacy of first year MSW students in the use of SBIRT with virtual clients. Results showed no significant difference due to undergraduate education preparation in the students' ability to use SBIRT and receive scores indicating a baseline competency. Overall, students' level of confidence increased in their ability to engage in early intervention practices after completing the SBIRT training. When comparing BSW students to non-BSW student's confidence in using SBIRT, there was a significant difference with BSW students showing higher confidence levels. Our findings demonstrate that training MSW students in SBIRT can have positive effects generally (providing a baseline competency level) and can assist students in their confidence to use this model. Further research may be warranted to explore if MSW students with BSW degrees express higher confidence in other practices as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social influence can be important to people's substance use recovery. It functions in professional substance use treatment programs and in the 12-step approach to recovery. The study reported here employed clinical data mining methodology to study the role of interpersonal associations inside and outside of substance use treatment in predicting clients' treatment success. In this study, the interpersonal associations available in treatment predicted greater odds of completing a day treatment program. Two interpersonal associations outside of treatment had an effect on successful program completion, but only one was in the hypothesized direction. Social learning theory and 12-Step philosophy offer a lens for viewing the role interpersonal associations might play in a client's recovery process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intergenerational service-learning in higher education positively affects older adults and students, but little is known about the effectiveness of interdisciplinary, reverse mentoring programs that use technology as the medium of bringing generations together. This study describes an intergenerational service-learning program that utilizes reverse mentoring within higher education, the "Engaging Generations Program," at a midsized public university in New England where students help older adults learn about technology, and students gain communication and teaching skills. In this article, we outline how the program was implemented, present quantitative data on participation outcomes for students and older adults and qualitative data from older adults, and discuss best practices. Analysis of pre/post surveys found that students' attitudes toward aging improved (p < 0.01) and older adults interest in technology improved (p < 0.05) after program participation. Best practices identified included: multiple meetings with the same pair to deepen friendships, in-person training for student leaders, student responsibility for scheduling, tailoring sessions to each participant, student documentation of meetings, and active involvement by community partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emerging adults aged 18 to 25 are most at-risk for non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD). While the literature dedicated to emerging-adult NMUPD has explored risk and protective factors at an individual level, much less is known regarding how interpersonal and familial factors relate to NMUPD. Because interpersonal bonds can have a significant impact on behavior, familial factors may be important predictors of NMUPD among emerging adults.Objectives: Inasmuch as growing up in a stepfamily is increasingly common for children, this study aimed to determine whether perceived stepfamily quality within three stepfamily subsystems - child-biological parent, child-stepparent, and child-stepsibling - decreased the likelihood of NMUPD in emerging adulthood.Methods: Data came from the Stepfamily Experiences Project (STEP), a retrospective survey examining emerging adults' perceptions of their stepfamily life in 2013. A national quota sampling strategy was used, and the final sample consisted of 902 emerging adults (54.1% female). A structural equation model was constructed, with regression paths from each latent construct predicting the ordinal dependent variable, NMUPD.Results: Increased retrospective biological parent relationship quality in childhood significantly decreased the likelihood of intensifying NMUPD in emerging adulthood (e.g. moving from the "None" category to the "Once a month or less" category). However, stepparent and stepsibling relationship quality did not influence NMUPD.Conclusion: Findings underscore the importance of the preservation of the child-biological parent relationship within a stepfamily context, and encourage further research on the impact familial systems and subsystems may have on NMUPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The working alliance plays an important role in the substance use disorder treatment process. Many substance use disorder treatment providers incorporate the 12-Step approach to recovery into treatment. With the 12-Step approach known among many clients and clinicians, it may well factor into the therapeutic relationship.Objective: We investigated how, from the perspective of clients, a clinician's level of familiarity with and in-session time spent on the 12-Step approach might affect the working alliance between clients and clinicians, including possible differences based on a clinician's recovery status.Method: We conducted a secondary study using data from 180 clients and 31 clinicians. Approximately 81% of client participants were male, and approximately 65% of clinician participants were female. We analyzed data with Stata using a population-averaged model.Results: From the perspective of clients with a substance use disorder, clinicians' familiarity with the 12-Step approach has a positive relationship with the working alliance. The client-estimated amount of in-session time spent on the 12-Step approach did not have a statistically significant effect on ratings of the working alliance. A clinician's recovery status did not moderate the relationship between 12-Step familiarity and the working alliance.Conclusion: These results suggest that clinicians can influence, in part, how their clients perceive the working alliance by being familiar with the 12-Step approach. This might be particularly salient for clinicians who provide substance use disorder treatment at agencies that incorporate, on some level, the 12-Step approach to recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: The therapeutic relationship is an important factor in substance abuse treatment. Because Twelve-Step Program (TSP) concepts and principles are often incorporated into substance abuse treatment, we investigated whether counselor familiarity and time spent on TSPs impact counselor credibility. Method: A sample of 180 clients receiving residential treatment in the capital region of a northeastern state in 2009 completed a Client Demographic Questionnaire and the Counselor Rating Form - Short Version. Their counselors ( N = 31) completed a corresponding Counselor Demographic Questionnaire. Results: The effect of the estimated percentage of in-session time discussing TSPs ( p = .010) and the effect of TSP familiarity for counselors in recovery ( p = .017) had significant effects on counselor credibility. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: The credibility of counselors is important for a working relationship with clients. These results highlight counselor influence stemming from a TSP presence in treatment, indicating positive ramifications for the therapeutic relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five in-depth, semistructured interviews on what constitutes best practices were conducted with key professionals experienced in serving the homeless population. A practice model emerged from the interviews wherein client self-determination was considered a keystone. Self-determination theory was then used as a framework for understanding the best practices that emerged, and the relationship between client self-determination and positive outcomes. Implications are discussed for the older homeless, highlighting that although general best practices are applicable for this subgroup, the unique factors of an aging homeless population must be incorporated into best practice discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We examined the relationship between substance use, marital status, and perceived overall health using national data from a sample of 1,506 retired active-duty veterans. We found that binge drinking and heavy alcohol use among widowed veterans have a negative effect on overall health compared to married veterans who did not use alcohol in the past month. We found that non-binge and binge drinking have a positive effect on perceptions of overall health among divorced or separated veterans compared to those who are married and did not use alcohol in the past month. We discuss these findings and address clinical implications.