Alcohol/Drug Education Services in Treatment.

Overview & Synopsis

A survey was made of 11 alcohol/drug treatment centers to assess their education services, client treatment, staff inservice, and community/workplace outreach. Background information was gathered on the type of services offered, the organizational operation, licensed bed capacity, physical environment, payment system, and admission criteria. The survey questionnaire was a composite of items extrapolated from the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Utilization Survey and from survey instruments for alcohol/drug education programs and patient education services. While the investigators examined staff inservice training and community outreach educational efforts, most attention was centered on alcohol/drug education services for the client. No implications were drawn on how much of the treatment plan should be documented separately as education. Results suggested that treatment centers are providing extensive alcohol/drug education services; however, the documentation of such services varied from setting to setting. In most centers, educational activities were directed not only toward the client and staff, but also toward the community and workplace. Recommendations are made for future research on treatment centers. Samples of the survey instruments are appended. (Author/JD)