M. Scott Young

This study was part of a larger effort to test the effectiveness of technology transfer approaches related to evidence-based treatment of co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. Specifically, this study examined characteristics of "opinion leaders" as technology transfer agents. A network analysis was conducted within four large substance abuse treatment agencies to identify individuals that other counselors sought out for consultation on co-occurring issues. The identified opinion leaders were then compared with other counselors on demographic variables, education and experience, and attitudes and knowledge about working with individuals with co-occurring disorders. The analyses demonstrate that opinion leaders differed from other counselors in competency-related characteristics including more postgraduate education, relevant professional credentials, and years of experience in mental health treatment. They also had greater knowledge of the dynamics and treatment of co-occurring disorders as well as a greater willingness and confidence in working with such clients. These results suggest that opinion leaders are used within agencies for information and consultation regarding treatment issues. Therefore, opinion leaders may provide an important vehicle for dissemination and adoption of evidence-based treatment practices in community treatment settings.

This study was supported by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services Grant Numbers TI16681, TI16605, TI16473, TI16502, TI16569, TI16485, TI16630, TI16672, ...

Although several evidence-based substance abuse treatment interventions have been developed in recent years, efforts to translate this new knowledge to practice settings have been largely discouraging. The current study examines results froma SAMHSA/CSAT-funded Practice Improvement Collaborative project in Tampa, Florida, developed to facilitate the implementation of an evidence-based manualized treatment approach for clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. A quasi-experimental design was used to examine the effectiveness of intensive counselor training sessions and use of peer opinion leaders to monitor and superfise counselor\u27s implementation of the manualized treatment approach, in comparison to a standard training session and resource materials provided to counselors. A total of 43 counselors in the experimental group and 28 counselors in the comparison group completed baseline and three-month follow-up measures to examine the extent of manual implementation, and changes in treatment practices, attitudes, knowledge acquisition, and work-related behaviors related to co-occurring disorders treatment. Findings indicate a significantly higher rate of manual implementation among counselors who received a structured series of opinion leader-facilitated training and consultative activities, in comparison to counselors who received only a traditional training workshop. The experimental group also indicated significantly greater use of evidence-based practices in their work from the baseline to follow-up period, relative to comparison group counselors, although group differences were not detected in attitudinal change or knowledge acquisition. Results provide evidence for the effectiveness of enhanced training regimens that are coupled with use of peer opinion leaders in implementing evidence-based practices in community substance abuse treatment settings

... Linton Carney Patricia J. Kissinger Barriers to Implementation of an Evidence-Based Practice: The Example of Methadone Maintenance 93 Jodie A. Traft on Keith Humphreys Daniel Kivlahan Mark Willenbring Index 109 Page 19. ABOUT THE EDITORS Eldon Edmundson, Jr ...

Fidelity rating of evidence-based practices ensures the implementation of interventions as intended and enhances the likelihood of replication of positive outcomes previously demonstrated. However, modifications have been necessary when a practice is adopted in settings or for populations other than those for which they were developed. This study reports fidelity findings for six programs implementing the Assertive Community Treatment model

... Linton Carney Patricia J. Kissinger Barriers to Implementation of an Evidence-Based Practice: The Example of Methadone Maintenance 93 Jodie A. Traft on Keith Humphreys Daniel Kivlahan Mark Willenbring Index 109 Page 19. ABOUT THE EDITORS Eldon Edmundson, Jr ...

Women are entering substance abuse treatment in increasing numbers and, often, come to treatment as the result of their involvement in dependency court. Unfortunately, traditional substance abuse treatment models are not designed to address women with children and multiple vulnerabilities. Part I of this Essay reviews the literature and data discussing the relationship between child abuse and neglect and substance abuse. Part II identifies referral pathways through which women enter substance abuse treatment, focusing on the referral process in the Hillsborough County, Florida dependency courts. Part III describes the role of dependency courts in encouraging compliance with substance abuse treatment recommendations. Part IV identifies innovative substance abuse treatment models that address women and their children. Part V describes the methodology and findings of key informant interviews and file reviews, which were conducted to uncover the complex issues associated with women invo...

This study was part of a larger effort to test the effectiveness of technology transfer approaches related to evidence-based treatment of co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. Specifically, this study examined characteristics of "opinion leaders" as technology transfer agents. A network analysis was conducted within four large substance abuse treatment agencies to identify individuals that other counselors sought out for consultation on co-occurring issues. The identified opinion leaders were then compared with other counselors on demographic variables, education and experience, and attitudes and knowledge about working with individuals with co-occurring disorders. The analyses demonstrate that opinion leaders differed from other counselors in competency-related characteristics including more postgraduate education, relevant professional credentials, and years of experience in mental health treatment. They also had greater knowledge of the dynamics and treatment of co-occurring disorders as well as a greater willingness and confidence in working with such clients. These results suggest that opinion leaders are used within agencies for information and consultation regarding treatment issues. Therefore, opinion leaders may provide an important vehicle for dissemination and adoption of evidence-based treatment practices in community treatment settings.

The authors acknowledge the contributions of the Treatment for Homeless project staff, administrators, and evaluators who provided the data reported here. They also thank Joanne Gampel, MA, for her continuing support and Jim Herrell, PhD, and Gwen Gannon, MA, for ...

Prescription drug abuse represents a national public health concern. This study reports on 12-month outcomes of a drug court treatment program for 102 female offenders addicted to prescription drugs. The program utilized two evidence-based treatment models (i.e., Motivational Enhancement Therapy/Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-12 and Seeking Safety). In addition, participants were required to attend monthly judicial reviews, weekly AA/NA groups, and two random drug screens per week. Participants were interviewed at baseline and 12-month follow-up. Analyses examined self-reported substance use, traumatic experiences, criminal justice involvement, readiness to change, and therapeutic alliance. Participants reported significant decreases in substance use, increased readiness to change, high therapeutic alliance, and significantly fewer arrest charges 12-months after enrollment compared to 12-months before intake. Results suggest that the drug court program was successful in reducing subst...

This study explores the relationship between the recovery orientation of treatment and subjective experiences of consumer empowerment and satisfaction with services for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. Instruments measuring perceptions of empowerment, recovery orientation of treatment, and satisfaction with services were administered to 45 participants enrolled in two demographically similar mental health treatment programs in Tampa, Florida - a community mental health center and an Assertive Community Treatment team. Analyses were conducted according to traditional mediation models. Empowerment was expected to mediate the relationship between the recovery orientation of treatment and consumer satisfaction with services. A recovery-based treatment orientation significantly predicted both consumer empowerment and satisfaction with services. Empowerment mediated the relationship between treatment orientation and consumer satisfaction. These preliminary findings highlight the impact of the recovery orientation of treatment on empowerment and satisfaction with services among individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.

Prior studies have suggested that specific characteristics of sexually abusive experiences, including the presence of force and penetration, have been proposed to account for much of the harm caused by childhood sexual abuse. Though many studies have documented gender differences in the prevalence and sequelae of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), few have examined gender differences related to the types of abusive incidents that victims have encountered, and all have been limited to clinical samples. Illuminating gender differences in the nature of sexually abusive experiences may help to account for gender disparities related to the sequelae of CSA. Extending this line of research to nonclinical samples will help to estimate the overall prevalence of CSA and assess the generalizability of previous study findings.  This study examined gender differences in the types of sexually abusive incidents self-reported by 155 victims of CSA who were students enrolled in an undergraduate psycholog...

The Housing Program Measure (HPM) was designed to document critical elements of a range of housing program types and associated services. Qualitative methods, including literature review and open-ended interviews, were used to determine pertinent HPM domains and to develop the pool of items. The measure was pre-tested, and reliability and validity analyses were applied to revise and strengthen the measure. The resulting measure furthers homelessness research by providing a tool that can be used to define housing and housing services interventions across diverse projects and disciplines, to facilitate program management by matching housing resources to the needs of homeless individuals, and to support model development by measuring progress to goals.

In today's troubled economy, service providers increasingly face pressure to implement interventions with proven effectiveness. In order to facilitate their dissemination, adoption, and standardization, many evidence-based behavioral health interventions have been transformed ...