Addictive Behaviours Workforce development: from global to European higher education programs

The global scarcity of the addiction workforce has been a significant concern. According to the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) in the United States, the number of professionals available per addiction problem's users has been less than 10% since 2015, despite the escalating crisis of drug and behavioural addictions. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) has initiated various measures, including specific informal online training options to address this shortage. The addiction workforce, predominantly comprising educators, counsellors, and addiction-focused health care professionals (e.g., physicians, psychologists, social workers), requires specialised training, as underscored by the model scope of practice and career ladder established by American organisations since 2011. This framework encompasses national credentials from peer level to Master’s level, requiring national standards. Similarly, specific Postgraduate programs in Europe, America and Australia have been instrumental in training national workforces in this domain, emphasising common module contents and scope, often under the guidance of esteemed universities and industrial partners. Notably, while the primary focus remains on drug addiction, behavioural addictions are increasingly incorporated into these programs, as within the Diagnostic classification systems and specific Intervention programs. A parallel scenario is observed in continuous professional training initiatives at local and national levels in Europe during this century. This contribution aims, therefore, to present and compare the latest educational developments from the global to the European frameworks of workforce development higher education programs in addictive behaviours, their contents alongside selected recent skills training for these professionals, and insights from the lead author's role in postgraduate actions in addictive behaviours and addiction-related problems research.