MEASURING AND COMPARING THE ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS OF STAFF WORKING INNEW-YORK METHADONE-MAINTENANCE CLINICS

Scales measuring commitment to abstinence-oriented policies, attitudes to drug addiction, and knowledge of methadone maintenance were refine d and tested in a survey of staff working in 14 New York maintenance p rograms. Confirmatory factor analysis established the validity of a 9- item Abstinence Orientation Scale and a 6-item Disapproval of Drug Use Scale. Scores on the two scales and Knowledge scores were highly corr elated. There were highly significant differences in the mean Abstinen ce Orientation scores of the administrative and better qualified clini cal staff on the one hand and the less qualified staff on the other. S enior staff generally rejected abstinence-oriented policies while nurs es and counselors tended to support them.