Speaker
Description
Title: Perceptions of alcohol-related problems among social workers and their clients
Authors: Dr. Elina Renko
Affiliation(s): University of Helsinki
Presenter/Corresponding author: Elina Renko
Contact details: elina.renko@helsinki.fi
Background: Alcohol-related problems are widely viewed as health problems and thus as marginal to the social workers' job. Social workers, who work outside the substance- abuse practice settings, frequently encounter clients with hazardous and harmful drinking. This study explores how alcohol-related problems are perceived in social work.
Methods: It employs a qualitative attitude approach (QAA). Social workers (n=14) and their clients (n=14) were asked to comment on eight statements concerning alcohol screening and counselling. Here, the primary objective is to explore: How alcohol- related problems were constructed as attitude objects?
Results: Both groups mainly constructed alcohol-related problem as a social issue. The interviewees associated this social issue closely with social statuses as well as with client’s fulfilment of their responsibilities, and their ability to function well. Alcohol- related problem was allocated not only to the individual but to people around him as well. For themselves, the clients often used the binary framing of acceptable and problematic alcohol use, whereas for others the boundaries were blurred and constructed based on medical, social, and especially socio-economic aspects. Social workers rarely talked about their own alcohol use.
Discussion: The medicalized view of alcohol-related problem – highlighting the negative impact this problem can have on people’s health and well-being – was also present in the argumentative talk but was less common than the social view. The interviewees saw identifying and managing alcohol-related problems as essential to the social workers' job. This social view might be in contrast with the individualistic models of substance abuse treatment.
Other information
Conflict of interest: none
| Conflict of interest | The author declares no conflict of interest. |
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