Why All Behavioral Health Providers Need Addiction Training

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a major public health concern in the USA. In 2023, over 167 million Americans reported substance use, and more than 48 million met the DSM-5 criteria for a diagnosable SUD. Due to this high prevalence, behavioral health providers (i.e., psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, and marriage and family therapists) regularly encounter clients affected by these disorders. However, many of these providers report receiving limited training in the assessment and treatment of SUDs. This gap in training is especially concerning given how widespread SUDs are and how frequently they co-occur with mental health conditions. To address this issue, this commentary will (1) examine research on SUD training gaps in graduate programs, (2) highlight the risks associated with inadequate SUD training, and (3) propose actionable strategies to enhance SUD-focused training across the behavioral health workforce.