Assessment of the differences in staff beliefs about sustance abuse in mental health and addiction treatment centres

Abstract

This study sought to ascertain whether staff in mental health and addiction treatment centres in Thunder Bay, Ontario, endorsed a disease, eclectic or psychosocial approach with respect to their beliefs about the etiology and appropriate treatment of substance abuse. The Short Understanding of Substance Abuse Scale (SUSS) was administered to treatment staff from various disciplines to assess their beliefs about addiction. Two hundred and fifty-five questionnaire packages were distributed and one hundred and fifteen were completed. This yielded a response rate of 45 %. Sister Margaret Smith Centre treatment staff, addictions employees, counsellors, and staff with higher levels of addictions training were more likely to have a history of drug or alcohol problems. As well, treatment staff with a history of drug and/or alcohol problems, employees with lower education levels, and medical staff were found to score higher on the disease model of addiction. It is important to recognize that the disease model still plays a strong role in shaping beliefs about substance abuse.