IDEOLOGY AND SOCIAL-WORK-PRACTICE IN SUBSTANCE-ABUSE SETTINGS

The profession of social work has a unique role in preventing and trea ting alcohol and other drug problems. In human services settings share d beliefs or ideologies of care are expected to have substantial influ ence over the way in which problems ave perceived and the types of ser vice technologies used. Thus, it is important that social work profess ionals be cognizant of what beliefs they hold and how their beliefs ab out substance abuse treatment and prevention may affect practice. This article discusses current ideologies of care in the substance abuse a rena, including the disease/abstinence, psychosocial, ecological, and harm-reduction approaches. In addition, this article examines managers ' beliefs about substance abuse programs to determine if there are dif ferences between those who have a social work background (that is, hol d at least one social work degree) and those who do not. Suggestions f or social work practice and future research also are provided.