Attitudes toward evidence-based and pharmacological interventions among community-based addiction treatment programs targeting vulnerable patient groups

Objectives: Many vulnerable patient groups with addiction disorders receive treatment from independent, small community-based organizations (CBOs). A Robert Wood Johnson Substance Abuse Policy Research Program study surveyed CBO program directors in addiction treatment centers with grants from CSAT to implement evidence-based practices and assessed director attitudes regarding use of pharmacological and behavioral evidence based treatments.

Methods: Data from online surveys completed by 250 CBO program directors were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and regression methods. Five point Attitudinal Likert scales (McCarty et al., 2007) were used to assess attitudes regarding a range of evidence addiction treatments Findings: Significant results include: directors of programs serving higher percentages of homeless had more negative attitudes about use of buprenorphine and naltrexone; directors serving higher percentages of clients with co-morbid addiction and mental health disorders had more negative attitudes toward buprenorphine; directors serving higher percentages of Latinos had more negative attitudes toward routine screening for psychiatric disorders and use of psychiatric medications; directors in organizations with greater staffing and training resources had more positive attitudes about pharmacological and behavioral therapies.

Implications: CBOs providing substance abuse treatment to specific vulnerable client groups exhibit more negative attitudes about pharmacological, evidence-based interventions. These attitudes may result in CBOs underutilizing the range of evidence-based treatments available that may benefit their client populations. Learning Objectives: 1. Discuss potential health impacts of having vulnerable subgroups underutilize pharmacological therapies for addiction disorders. 2. Identify strategies to increase knowledge about the range of evidence based addiction treatments available in addiction treatment CBOs.