“Vocational training in illicit drug addiction: Equipping health care practitioners with addiction treatment competences and techniques” (CARE4SUD)

 

2022-1-LT01-KA220-VET-000086077

 

Transnational report

elaborated within Work package n°2 – Review and Analysis Report: Sharper lens on illicit drug addiction educational programmes

 

A Transnational report was elaborated based on the 6 national reports produced by the partners and it aims to provide insight into training needs, explain the cross-country variances with country differences in the institutional settings and policies, and provide the core competencies for advancing addiction counseling skills.

 

The transnational report produced contributes to reaching the WP 2 objectives, namely to:

  • provide an overview of scientific publications on existing initiatives on the development of addiction curricula at different educational levels EU-wide;
  • define the needs and shortages in practical and forward-looking skills in the addiction health training industry in the six participating countries and provide an inventory on the national skill gaps and needs;
  • facilitate the identification of the up-to-date competencies required for the professional identity of the illicit drug addiction counselor (EQF5).

 

The transnational report showcases data derived from the analysis conducted during the three stages of data collection information outlined underneath:

  • A comprehensive mapping review on the availability of EU addiction training opportunities was carried out, where partners explored available national educational programmes/courses, including vocational and online short courses, that have the potential to increase healthcare workers’ and physicians’ skills in identifying and managing patients whose medical problems are caused or may be exacerbated by illicit drug use disorders;
  • Focus Groups involving addictologists and healthcare workers were elaborated with the purpose to obtain insights into drug use from multiple perspectives and to understand knowledge gaps in drug prevention and treatment education to develop a core set of competencies to address the specific needs of the healthcare industry professionals;
  • Interviews were conducted with individuals who had used or are currently using illicit drugs to explore the gaps and needs in health care training in the illicit drug addiction field.

 

The analysis revealed many needs related to the training of professionals, namely:

  • that there are no training courses addressed to specific categories of professionals in university studies and that some of the existing ones are not updated;
  • that the existing courses are not sufficiently promoted or are not sufficiently adapted and practical enough according to the needs of persons who use drugs;
  • the need for models of good practice and collaboration between professionals in this field.

The participants in the interviews and focus groups from all the six countries highlighted a:

  • Lack of a holistic approach to patients’ health | The need for closer cooperation between psychiatry, addiction doctors, general practitioners, and other parts of the health service. Participants pointed to a more holistic approach to patients’ health.
  • Lack of skills and knowledge | Health workers do not feel adequately equipped for the tasks in the field of addiction based on their initial training. The need for more tools and skills, such as communication and motivational skills, knowledge of treatment options, activity analysis, and collaboration with addiction therapists and other cross-sectoral partners is essential.
  • Lack of competency validation and research | Importance of pooling and validating competencies in a unit that can develop and implement education and training, as well as a higher degree of research use to promote evidence-based interventions in the field.
  • Lack of continuing education | Participants pointed out that there is no specific continuing education for doctors, health, or social professionals in the field of addiction. There is a clear need for formalized, quality-assured, and specialized training opportunities and certification requirements.

 

Areas proposed to be covered in an online Illicit drug addiction training programme under development would include basic knowledge of psychopathology, pharmacology, and techniques of psychotherapy, mainly family therapy in addiction.

Motivational interviews, screening questionnaires to assess the level of addiction, mental health first aid, and referrals to main illicit drug addiction services should also be covered.

The improvement of communication skills, ethical and legal aspects, as well as minimization of preconceptions, were also issues proposed to be tackled in the new course.

The data presented in this report paints a vivid picture of the challenges faced in drug addiction counseling and the imperative for an enhanced training program.

Core competencies, as revealed through the scoping review, the interviews with drug users/patients, and the focus groups with healthcare workers, underscore a significant knowledge gap in illicit drug addiction training across different countries.

The CARE4SUD project emerges as a response to these challenges by calling for up-to-date training programs tailored to new trends aimed at increasing the number of professionals specializing in illicit drug addiction.

The transnational report will be available online in all languages of the consortium on the project website www.care4sud.eu.