Call for social workers to get drug abuse training

Concerns have been voiced over the absence of substance misuse guidance for social workers, despite professionals saying they come across drug and alcohol abuse on a regular basis. It is understood that the National Treatment Agency is in discussions with representatives in the social work sector.

The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is now putting its weight behind the issue of training. It has created a specialist interest group for drugs and alcohol to mount a campaign.

Joint manager in England at BASW Nushra Mansuri said: "There is an absence of training on drug and alcohol issues and it needs to be incorporated at the pre-qualifying stage. For so many families, substance misuse is quite prevalent and social workers don't feel equipped to deal with it."

In 2003, the Advisory Council for Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) published the Hidden Harm report, recommending that the government introduce specialist training as a compulsory requirement for social workers. The proposal was rejected.

DrugScope chief executive and ACMD member Martin Barnes said: "I still find it surprising that it is not a requirement for social workers to have training or experience of working with substance misuse. For young people with a substance misuse problem, the substance is one of a number of issues that need to be addressed. The ability to work around them across a range of organisations is really key."