Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

School

Social Work

Advisor

Thomas McLaughlin

Abstract

Opioid addiction is a growing epidemic in the United States and was declared a public health emergency by the Department of Health and Human Services in October of 2017. There is a growing recognition that the current treatment for heroin and opioid addiction, abstinence-based treatment programs, is not readily available and has minimal success in addressing the epidemic. Harm reduction therapy is recognized as an effective way to address the opioid epidemic. This study aimed to develop further insight and understanding of how to integrate harm reduction therapy in abstinence-based treatment programs. The theoretical framework for this study was the harm reduction theory. Data were collected from narrative, semistructured interviews with addiction professionals. Purposeful sampling was used to select 13 credentialed addiction professionals in northern New Jersey with at least 2 years of experience. Data analysis was conducted by evaluating transcripts of audio recordings from the interviews. The findings of this study include the following themes: the need to implement harm reduction into abstinence-based treatment, the need for increased supervision to discuss harm reduction techniques, the importance of policies to be introduced to support evidenced based treatment, and the importance of acknowledging the efforts of social workers and addiction counselors to meet the clients they serve. All social work professionals working in the field of substance abuse may benefit from the results of this study, leading to positive social change. The research in this study highlights the benefits of implementing harm reduction techniques into all substance abuse programs

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