Guidelines Released on Marijuana Counseling
 SAMHSA's
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) recently
published Brief
Counseling for Marijuana Dependence: A Manual for Treating
Adults.
Based on the research protocol developed by counselors
at CSAT's Marijuana Treatment Project, the new treatment
manual provides brief marijuana dependence counseling
(BMDC) guidelines for counselors, social workers, and
psychologists in both public and private settings.
Ten weekly one-on-one sessions offer techniques and
strategies to help adult clients end their dependence
on marijuana.
The counseling approach presented in this manual comprises
three key intervention components: motivational enhancement,
cognitive behavioral skills training, and case management.
The manual includes guidelines, protocols, assessment
forms, and client handouts for each session, as well
as supporting information on prevalence of use, clinical
research, and program implementation.
Each session presents examples of how a counselor might
reinforce the client's resolution to stop using marijuana,
provide skills training, and help the client access needed
community support.
Case examples of people seeking treatment for marijuana
dependence are included along with background information
on treatment for marijuana use disorders, current findings
about marijuana use, an overview of the Marijuana Treatment
Project, and criteria for marijuana dependency counselors.
In addition, the theoretical basis for BMDC treatment
is presented in detail. Information includes the therapeutic
tasks of the approach, a description of the target population,
and suggested sequencing for counseling sessions.
The manual also addresses common treatment issues and
potential pitfalls in the BMDC model. Some identified
problems are not specific to marijuana treatment and
may apply generally to substance use disorders or clinical
counseling.
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Strategies for initiating counseling with clients include
building rapport, assessment procedures, and motivational
enhancement therapy techniques for engaging clients and
identifying specific goals and change strategies.
Assessment and scoring tools are provided for completing
each client's personal feedback report, which is a critical
tool in BMDC implementation. Counselors use the completed
report to make clients aware of the effects of marijuana
use on critical life areas and to increase motivation.
The manual offers guidelines on how to reinforce each
client's efforts to initiate change, review goals, and
plan alternative strategies for behavior change, and
to encourage support from friends or relatives.
Skill building is a critical factor in ending marijuana
use. Cognitive behavioral strategies are outlined for
building client motivation and maintaining treatment
gains. Six core skill topics are presented that include
coping with other life problems, understanding marijuana
use patterns, coping with cravings and urges to use,
managing thoughts about marijuana use, problemsolving,
and marijuana refusal skills.
To obtain a copy of Brief
Counseling for Marijuana Dependence: A Manual for Treating
Adults, contact SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse
for Alcohol and Drug Information at P.O. Box 2345, Rockville,
MD 20847-2345. Telephone: 1 (800) 729-6686 (English and
Spanish) or 1 (800) 487-4889 (TDD). Ask for NCADI Publication
No. BKD520.
This manual also is available online at kap.samhsa.gov/
products/brochures/pdfs/bmdc.pdf. For more
information, visit the SAMHSA Web site at www.samhsa.gov. 
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