NCJ Number
236617
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 30 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2011 Pages: 664-670
Date Published
November 2011
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Religious organizations have been involved in delivering alcohol and other drug (AOD) services since Australian colonial times and are a familiar presence in the AOD sector. However, there is concern in some sectors that AOD services delivered by religious organizations might be influenced by religious ideology, at the expense of evidence-based service provision.
Abstract
A national, cross-sectional survey of non-government AOD agencies was undertaken using a mailed questionnaire. All non-government AOD agencies in Australia, providing at least one face-to-face specialist AOD service, were invited to participate. Agency goals and activities were assessed using the Drug and Alcohol Program Treatment Inventory, which has eight distinct treatment orientations: 12-step, therapeutic community, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic, family, rehabilitation, dual diagnosis and medical. There was a high degree of uniformity in treatment orientations with religiously affiliated agencies having similar goals and activities to non-religiously affiliated agencies. Cognitive behavioral therapy was most commonly provided and 12-step the least provided. Religiously affiliated agencies were significantly more likely to favor the 12-step orientation in both goals and activities. Concerns that the religious affiliation of non-government organizations might influence AOD service delivery in Australia appear to be overstated. Factors contributing to the observed uniformity of care may include a more strategic, federal approach; and an increasing emphasis on best practice within the sector. The lack of discernable differentiation between religiously affiliated and non-religiously affiliated non-government organizations may also be attributable to changes in the way services are delivered by many religious organizations. (Published Abstract)