Development of Curricula and Sustainability of University-Based Master’s Programmes in Addiction Studies: A Pilot Comparative Study

INTRODUCTION:

Addiction studies programmes are very diverse around the world. To respond to the public health perspective needs to decrease problems related to drug use, empowering the addiction workforce in a sustainable way is a relevant pathway. The main aim of the study was to describe and compare successfully running academic master’s programmes in addictions with proven sustainability and to find key supporting factors of these programmes.

METHODS:

The study was conducted in 2022-2023 with selected master’s-level study programmes in addictions actively participating in international collaboration with accessible data from evaluation studies. The selection of the sample for the research was a non-random, intentional selection. Eight programmes were approached, and five programmes participated in the research. The first phase was focused on a website search, collecting information regarding specific characteristics of the university-based master’s degree study programmes in addiction and available evaluations. The second phase was based on semistructured interviews and in-depth analysis of the study programmes. The Grounded Theory method (open and selective coding) and simple descriptive statistics were used.

RESULTS:

The study programmes, generally represented by a two-year follow-up master’s programme, have been developed in the last 40 years. Their establishment was related to the drug situation in the countries and the lack of professionals in the field of addiction, especially those focused on addiction treatment. The curricula were based on existing international standards or curricula. The programmes have a core of common competencies for graduates, based primarily on an understanding of the phenomenon of addiction, the use of evidence-based interventions in working with clients, an ethical approach, knowledge of the system of care, an interdisciplinary approach, and competencies related to research, drug policy, and public health.

CONCLUSION:

These study programmes mainly share the basic strategy of using already available international standards and curricula, paying attention to the competencies of graduates, the focus on programme sustainability and connection to practice.