i first began considering the imprtance of treating mental illness and substance abuse together after learning about SAMI at CWRU. currently the two isssues are treated seperately, with a demand the substance abuse problem be resolved before many doctors or systems will begin addressing mental illness. this article was on yahoo today:
Repeat DUIs Associated With Mental Illnesses Fri Sep 22, 7:03 PM ET
FRIDAY, Sept. 22 (HealthDay News) -- More than half of repeat DUI offenders suffer from at least one mental illness, say researchers from the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE).
A new study published in the September issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol looked at people who had been convicted of at least two DUI (driving under the influence) offenses in the past 10 years.
The researchers found that almost 60 percent of the participants reported experiencing major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder over their lifetime, in addition to a drug or alcohol-use disorder.
"People who deal with drug and alcohol abusers need to understand there are often other disorders that need to be dealt with as well," Sandra Lapham, principal investigator of the study, said in a prepared statement. "That's why we need to screen repeat offenders for multiple disorders."
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has more about substance abuse treatment services.
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2 comments:
Check out IDDT (integrated dual diagnostic treatment), an evidence based method to treat mental illness and substance abuse together. I am sure you find stuff on the SAMI website. I don't think many mh places use it, which makes me sad. It's strength based and focuses on where the client is. The "downside" is it takes more time and patients on the clinicians side... not so medicaid friendly....
yes, i am familiar. i actually had a class with lenore kola at case, and that is pretty much her program, and is why i made the link to SAMI in the post.
the hardest part, i think, is that in the long term, medicaid would actually pay less because the long term outcome of iddt is much greater...
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