Are Australian treatment agencies equipped to deal with rising numbers of presentations for cannabis issues?

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate drug and alcohol work-force issues related to the treatment of cannabis use and related problems in Australia. Method: A postal or online questionnaire of randomly selected drug and alcohol clinicians (n = 179) across Australia. Results: A total of 53 clinicians (30%) completed surveys. Results indicated that staff in metropolitan services tended to have higher qualifications than rural and regional agencies. Access to ongoing training and clinical supervision could be improved, with approximately one third of staff having not received training in the last five years, and nearly one in five agencies not offering regular clinical supervision. Preferred options for the further development of cannabis treatments included support for medications and specific cannabis outpatient clinics. Discussion: To adequately assist with the consequences of cannabis use frontline workers need to be adequately supported to deliver evidenced based interventions.