Manual Now Available on Brief Counseling for Marijuana Dependence

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a free publication entitled "Brief Counseling for Marijuana Dependence: A Manual for Treating Adults." This manual, developed by researchers and counselors at SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), provides guidelines using three counseling approaches, including motivational enhancement, cognitive behavioral skills training, and case management. A variety of information on guidelines, protocols, assessment forms, case examples and other useful materials are included. Theoretical bases for the brief counseling treatments are also presented, so that social workers may be able to expand upon and integrate what they already know.

A free copy is available online or through SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20847-2345, or by phone at 1-800-729-6686 (English and Spanish), or 1-800-487-4889 (TDD). Ask for Publication No. BKD520.