Internet-Based Addiction Counselor Education Study (2009 - Present)

Investigator:  Robin Montvilo, Rhode Island College
Mentor:  Kat Quina, University of Rhode Island 

Abstract:  Rhode Island College students and faculty within the Chemical Dependency & Addiction Studies (CDAS) Program will partner to conduct an investigation of an Internet-based preparatory training modality for addictions counselors. Despite government initiatives to translate evidence based research to substance abuse treatment context^4,8,17, the transmission of research to practicing behavioral health professionals has been limited^25,30. A recent survey²⁵ found that, at best, only half of behavioral health professionals ever received any specific coursework or training in substance abuse topics. Further, the study found that one-third of vocational counselors working with individuals experiencing substance abuse issues may not have any experience with substance abuse specific coursework or training. The majority of behavioral health practitioners may have only a singular or infrequent experience with continuing education events (seminars  and workshops) that currently serve as the primary modality for the transmission of substance abuse treatment information²⁵. Traditional continuing education seminars and conferences have not made a sufficient impact on the practice of substance abuse treatment providers. Therefore, addiction research remains largely isolated from the treatment providers it is intended to inform. Common barriers to training opportunities were time commitments, inadequate financial resources, and inconvenient training locations. Although some internet-learning addiction education programs exist, no Internet-based learning modality currently addresses the evidence-based treatment of individuals with co-occurring addiction disorders and medical problems. This on-line coursework would help bridge the gap between knowledge of effective treatment in the research world to actual practice in the community – a pressing priority identified by the Institute of Medicine³⁰. In an effort to bridge the gap between research and the evidence-based treatment knowledge of community-based practitioners, the Internet-Based Addiction Counselor Education Study (IBACES) will: 1)   develop and implement a pilot demonstration of an innovative Internet based program for training Chemical Dependency/Addiction Studies (CDAS) students initially, with later generalization to community-based practitione2) disseminate current knowledge about the Addiction Counseling Competencies of Professional Practice and  examine their impact on State Certification for Chemical Dependency Counseling. 3) conduct a randomized controlled trial to measure knowledge transfer and preparation using the Internet.