The Effect of Drug Use on Social Work Students' Treatment Attitudes

Sixty first-year social work students were studied regarding their drug experiences and attitudes. A minority had experimented with drugs other than marijuana, and over half had tried marijuana. Older age was found to be associated with less drug use and more negative attitudes. Experience with drugs was also related to less negative attitudes toward users and more positive views about treatment effectiveness. Since social work is a profession concerned with helping those in trouble, particularly substance abusers, drug experiences and attitudes of social workers need to be explored further concerning their relationship to treatment outcome.