Alcohol Education Provided to Opioid Treatment Program Patients: Results of a Nationwide Survey

• NCJ Number: 233807
• Journal: Journal of Drug Education Substance Abuse Research and Prevention Volume: 40 Issue: 4 Dated: 2010 Pages: 379-393
• Author(s): Shiela M. Strauss, Ph.D.; Gavin Harris, B.A.; Carina Katigbak, M.S.; David M. Rindskopf, Ph.D.; Sheena Singh, B.A.; Ilana Greenblum; Lawrence S. Brown, Jr., M.D., M.P.H., Fasam; Steven Kipnis, M.D., Facp, Fasam; Steven A. Kritz, M.D.; Mark W. Parrino, M.P.A.
• Date Published: 2010
• Length: 15 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined characteristics of opioid treatment program (OTP) alcohol education policies and services, and examined the extent to which OTPs provide alcohol education to all of their patients and those factors that differentiate OTPs that provide this universal service from those that do not.

Abstract

Alcohol-related problems are especially common among opioid treatment program (OTP) patients, suggesting that educating OTP patients about alcohol and its harmful effects needs to be a priority in OTPs. Using data collected in interviews with a nationwide United States sample of OTP directors (N = 200) in 25 States, the authors identified factors that differentiate OTPs that provided this education to all OTP patients from those that did not. Findings indicate that these factors include (1) providing this education in a greater variety of ways, (2) having a larger percent of staff knowledgeable about alcohol-related issues, (3) having a director who views alcohol issues as a high priority, and (4) having a written OTP policy. (Published Abstract) Tables and references