Strengthening evidence-based practices in assessment and treatment planning for substance use disorder: an evaluation of a Swedish training program for social services - Report - MDSpire

Strengthening evidence-based practices in assessment and treatment planning for substance use disorder: an evaluation of a Swedish training program for social services

  • By

  • Lena M. Lundgren

  • Wossenseged Birhane Jemberie

  • Mikael Sandlund

  • Siv Nyström

  • Marcus Blom Nilsson

  • Robert Grahn

  • June 17, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Enhancing Evidence-Based Approaches in SUD Treatment in Sweden

Overview

Expand to include details about the training initiative's content and delivery method.

Background

Incorporate relevant statistics or references to studies that document the training gap.

Data Highlights

ModuleKnowledge Gain (Cohen’s d)
Technology in Assessment1.41
Biopsychosocial Interventions1.20
Addiction Severity Index (ASI)0.80
Professional Role in Care Planning0.90

Key Findings

  • Baseline competence in evidence-based practices was rated low to moderate among social workers.
  • Professional experience was positively associated with perceived competence in SUD interventions.
  • Significant knowledge gaps were identified, particularly in psychosocial interventions and digital technology use.
  • Knowledge increased significantly across all training modules, with the highest gains in technology use and biopsychosocial interventions.
  • Variability in scores decreased across several modules post-training.

Clinical Implications

The findings suggest that structured training programs can effectively enhance the knowledge and skills of social workers in managing substance use disorders. This improvement is crucial for ensuring that social workers are better equipped to provide evidence-based care in their communities.

Conclusion

The study underscores the potential of targeted educational interventions to bridge knowledge gaps in substance use services, ultimately improving care for affected individuals. Continued investment in professional training is essential for enhancing the effectiveness of social work in this area.

Related Resources & Content

  1. BMC Psychiatry (Springer), 2025 -- Exploring the Experiences of Forensic Psychiatric Patients in Managing Co-Occurring Mental and Substance Use Disorders
  2. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2026 -- Cross-sectional comparison of individual and group psychosocial programs among individuals on probation with substance use problems in Türkiye
  3. BMC Psychiatry (Springer), 2025 -- A qualitative study of patient’s experiences of receiving alcohol interventions according to the 15-method in psychiatric care
  4. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2026 -- Augmenting neurocounseling in addiction recovery with intelligent systems: a roadmap for research and practice
  5. Addiction Severity Index (ASI) - Socialstyrelsen
  6. Clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment - 10. Pharmacological interventions - Guidance - GOV.UK
  7. Addiction Severity Index (ASI) - Socialstyrelsen
  8. Clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment - 10. Pharmacological interventions - Guidance - GOV.UK
  9. Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, Withdrawal, and Overdose

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