Aaron Rosen Lecture: Translating Research to Practice: Social Work As Leaders in Behavioral Health and Addiction Treatment in the 21st Century

An estimated 23 million individuals in the U.S. meet criteria for a diagnosis of substance abuse or dependence. However, only about 4 million people enter care each year (McCarty, McConnell & Schmidt, 2009; SAMHSA, 2008). The Institute of Medicine (2001, 2006), NIAAA, NIDA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration all report on the urgent need for health professionals, to be trained in empirically-supported alcohol and other drugs (AOD) identification and treatment methods (Broderick, 2007; Martino, 2010; McCarty, Edmundson & Hartnett, 2006; Warren & Hewitt, 2010). Yet, the shortage of clinical staff workers who are sufficiently trained in these methods is a significant problem (Lundgren et al., 2011; Martino, 2010; McCarty, Edmundson & Hartnett, 2006; McCarty et al., 2007; Warren & Hewitt, 2010). This lecture will discuss the critical importance of social work researchers to become leaders in the addiction health services research field and translate their knowledge to practice.