The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #68531

Henrick Harwood, Ansari Ameen, and Jennifer Kowalski. The Lewin Group, 3130 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 800, Falls Church, VA 22042, 703-269-5635, hjharwood@lewin.com

CSAT’s Practitioner Services Network (PSN) is the first national initiative to look at co-morbidities in patients seen across major behavioral health professional groups. The studies conducted under the PSN initiative also allowed CSAT to address the large information gap regarding behavioral health practitioners working independently and the extent to which they serve clients with co-occurring disorders. Six professional associations participated in the initiative, utilizing CSAT support to build infrastructure and research capability for collecting information about their fields through studies of their members.

Findings from these studies indicate that practitioners in private practice, as well as those in organizational settings, routinely encounter patients with primary and co-occurring substance abuse disorders. Clients with substance abuse problems comprise more than one fifth of patients seen by behavioral health practitioners, yet many of these practitioners have not received any formal or continuing education in substance abuse disorders. During the year preceding the survey, less than half of the practitioners surveyed received any substance abuse specific training. Furthermore, only a small proportion hold any specialty or sub-specialty substance abuse certifications. In contrast, almost all substance abuse counselors have received recent continuing education on substance abuse and most hold state substance abuse certifications. Behavioral health practitioners working in organized treatment settings are more likely to serve clients with primary and co-occurring substance abuse disorders than are practitioners in private practice. Findings from the PSN initiative will inform public policy and CSAT’s efforts to address the training needs of practitioners who encounter clients with co-occurring substance abuse disorders.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: (
• Describe the importance of developing and supporting behavioral health Practitioner Services Network studies. (
• Articulate the differences and similarities among the major behavioral health professions with regard to their preparedness to treat clients with co-occurring substance abuse disorders and the frequency with which they encounter such clients. (
• Recognize the training needs of practitioners in both private practice and organizational settings with regard to substance abuse disorders.

Keywords: Mental Health, Substance Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), American Counseling Association (ACA), American Psychiatric Association (APA), American Psychological Association (APA), NAADAC, The Association for
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: contractor to CSAT