Abstract
With an estimated 9 % of the population in the United States having a substance use disorder, it is a rare social worker that
has not encountered a substance abuser or a family member of one in his or her clinical practice. This article provides a
brief history of social workers’ role in the treatment of substance abusing clients, an overview of the current, evidence-based
treatment approaches and some of the issues that will be impacting this field in the future. A case study is used to illustrate
some of the dynamics of substance abusing individuals, the impact on the family and effective treatment approaches.
has not encountered a substance abuser or a family member of one in his or her clinical practice. This article provides a
brief history of social workers’ role in the treatment of substance abusing clients, an overview of the current, evidence-based
treatment approaches and some of the issues that will be impacting this field in the future. A case study is used to illustrate
some of the dynamics of substance abusing individuals, the impact on the family and effective treatment approaches.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10615-012-0387-0
- Authors
- Shulamith Lala Ashenberg Straussner, Silver School of Social Work, New York University, 1 Washington Square North, New York, NY 10003, USA
- Journal Clinical Social Work Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-3343
- Print ISSN 0091-1674