Psychological training and substance use: Position paper

This 2003 position paper outlines the role of psychologists, and further training needs for the profession, in relation to alcohol and any other drug (AOD) related harm.  

The paper addresses four key themes:

1. The importance and centrality of the role of psychologists in responding to AOD problems;
2. The substantial overlap between psychologists’ core competencies and those required for AOD work;
3. A review of these core competencies in light of their relevance to AOD work; and 
4. A call to action for more psychologists to view AOD issues as being part of their work, rather than as a separate area that automatically requires referral to an AOD specialist.

Paper under review