The influence of recovery status and education on addiction counselors' approach to treatment

The goal of this study is to examine the influence of education and recover y status on substance abuse treatment counselors' approach to patients. Thr ee hundred forty-four drug abuse and alcoholism treatment counselors were q uestioned about treatment goals. A subgroup of 197 were also questioned abo ut treatment practices. The influences of education and recovery status on the choice of treatment goals and treatment practices were examined through structural modeling procedures. Level of education influenced neither trea tment goals nor techniques. Being in recovery, however, was associated with more varied treatment techniques and a broader range of treatment goals. T he other variable related to treatment goals and practices was treatment mo dality. Working in residential programs was linked to a wider range of trea tment goals and treatment practices. Implications of these findings for cou nselor training and the movement to professionalize substance abuse treatme nt are discussed.