The study compared 81 Masters-level social workers who completed a 9-month training program with a matched sample of 78 Masters-level social workers who did not enroll, with supervisors as collateral informants. Both subjects and supervisors were blind to the purpose of the study. Measures included behavior, clinical skills and self-rated attitudes. After training, trainees were significantly more likely than comparisons to: (1) work with substance-abusing clients; (2) have substance-abuse-related roles; (3) seek jobs that increased their opportunities to work with substance-abusing clients; (4) assess and intervene with substance abuse; and (5) obtain high ratings of optimism, confidence and competence. The study suggests the need for further research into the key factors that lead to and comprise therapeutic commitment, therapeutic orientation and therapeutic functioning. It recommends follow-up studies of long-term substance abuse training programs and determination of the impact on schools that sponsor them and the treatment systems into which their graduates are hired. Note, figure, tables, appendixes, references