MedPage Today
Originally published September 17, 2012
The U.S. Defense Department needs
more providers trained in treating substance abuse in the armed forces,
according to an Institute of Medicine report.
The prevalence of comorbid
behavioral conditions "necessitates access to providers with advanced
levels of training rather than certified counselors or peer support by
individuals in recovery," the report, released Monday, read.
The Department of Defense (DOD)
asked the IOM to assess the way it handles the prevention, screening,
diagnosis, and treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) for service members,
National Guard troops, members of the Reserves, and military dependents.
IOM researchers held public
information gathering meetings, conducted five site visits to military bases to
meet with primary care and behavioral health providers, and received information
and data on services from the military.
(cut)
Specifically, the IOM found:
- Shortages of SUDs counselors across all branches
- Wide variation in training and credentialing requirements for counselors across the branches
- Outdated training manuals for Air Force and Navy substance abuse counselors
- A noticeable shortage of a workforce trained in SUD prevention including physicians trained in addiction medicine or psychiatry
