The implementation of tobacco-related brief interventions in substance abuse treatment: A national study of counselors

Hannah K. Knudsen, Jamie L. Studts

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Most individuals receiving substance abuse treatment also use tobacco, which suggests that smoking cessation is an important clinical target for most clients. Few studies have measured the extent to which addiction treatment counselors address clients' tobacco use. In this study, we examined counselors' implementation of brief interventions that are consistent with the U.S. Public Health Service's (PHS) clinical practice guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, when counselors are engaging new clients in treatment. We hypothesized that counselors' implementation of tobacco-related brief interventions is associated with organizational and counselor-level factors. Data were collected from 2,067 counselors via mailed surveys. Implementation of recommended brief interventions during intake was significantly lower among counselors reporting greater barriers to smoking cessation services within their organizational context. Perceived managerial support for smoking cessation services was positively associated with implementation. Counselors with greater knowledge of the PHS guideline and who believed in the positive impact of smoking cessation interventions on sobriety reported greater implementation. Relative to counselors who have never been tobacco users, current tobacco users reported significantly lower implementation of these brief interventions. These findings suggest that attempts to increase the implementation of best practices in substance abuse treatment may require attention to organizational contexts and the individuals responsible for implementation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)212-219
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Volume38
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2010

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Primary data collection for this research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA020757). Construction of the original samples was also supported by NIDA (R01DA13110, R01DA14482, and R01DA14976) through research support to Dr. Paul M. Roman at the University of Georgia. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the official position of the funding agency. The authors are grateful to the research staff at the University of Georgia, particularly Jennifer Shaikun who managed the counselor-level data collection.

Funding

Primary data collection for this research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA020757). Construction of the original samples was also supported by NIDA (R01DA13110, R01DA14482, and R01DA14976) through research support to Dr. Paul M. Roman at the University of Georgia. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the official position of the funding agency. The authors are grateful to the research staff at the University of Georgia, particularly Jennifer Shaikun who managed the counselor-level data collection.

FundersFunder number
National Institute on Drug AbuseR01DA014976, R01DA020757
Georgia College & State University
National Institute of Development AdministrationR01DA14976, R01DA14482, R01DA13110

    Keywords

    • Counselors
    • Implementation research
    • Smoking cessation brief interventions

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Psychiatric Mental Health
    • Medicine (miscellaneous)
    • Clinical Psychology
    • Psychiatry and Mental health

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