The role of the social worker in a drug rehabilitative service

Abstract

Drug addiction is subject of an enormous amount of literature, almost all of which takes its starting point either from specialised medical aspects of the problem, or from a generally psycho-social approach, to questions about methods of limiting the use of drugs to a minimum within the community. What is more rare is any discussion of the part social workers play in the treatment of substance abusers. The emphasis in social work education on generalist practice skills, assessment of the person in the context of the environment, the individualisation of intervention and practice and programme evaluation skills provides social workers with many of the necessary skills to make an important contribution to the substance abuse field. This study highlights the importance of addressing the drug problem from a holistic perspective, thus making the role of social workers in the rehabilitative services indispensable. Within the parameters of the multidisciplinary approach adopted by the local rehabilitative services, Social Work is one of the most represented disciplines. By contrast, the study conducted shows that there is a lack of awareness about the input of the social work profession in the field of addiction.