Meeting the Treatment Needs of Multiply Diagnosed Consumers

• Author: Elke Rechberger,Lisa D. Steele
• Published date: 01 July 2002
• Date: 01 July 2002
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/002204260203200305
• Subject Matter: Article

© 2002 BY THE JOURNAL OF DRUG ISSUES

JOURNAL OF DRUG ISSUES 0022-0426/02/03 811-824

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Lisa D. Steele, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist certified in the treatment of substance abuse and dual

disorders. Dr. Steele serves as the Dual Diagnosis Coordinator for Youth through the Los Angeles

County Department of Mental Health and is stationed at Greater Long Beach Child Guidance Center.

Elke Rechberger, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in trauma and co-occurring

disorders. She is currently the Director for the Systems Change Center at PROTOTYPES, overseeing

two SAMHSA research projects examining best practices and outcomes for women and their children.

MEETING THE TREATMENT NEEDS OF MULTIPLY

DIAGNOSED CONSUMERS

LISA D. STEELE, ELKE RECHBERGER

Recent research demonstrates that approximately 10 million people in the United

States have been diagnosed with at least one co-occurring mental health disorder

and substance abuse disorder in any given year (Substance Abuse & Mental Health

Services Administration National Advisory Council, 1997). Emerging awareness

by clinicians, substance abuse counselors, and researchers has subsequently

awakened the treatment community to the needs of consumers who are afflicted

with co-occurring problems. One panel of the Los Angeles County-wide conference

“Common Ground, Common Language, Common Goals: Bringing Substance Abuse

Research and Practice Together” (held in April 2001) focused on the prevalence

and treatment of co-occurring disorders. This article outlines the discussion and

findings of this panel on the numerous treatment needs of consumers with multiple

diagnoses and the converging and conflicting treatment models that have been

developed for them.

MEETING THE TREATMENT NEEDS OF MULTIPLY DIAGNOSED CONSUMERS

In April 2001, the Los Angeles County-wide conference “Common Ground,

Common Language, Common Goals: Bringing Substance Abuse Research and

Practice Together” assembled substance abuse treatment providers, mental health

practitioners, researchers, policy makers and consumers in order to develop a

common agenda for researchers and practitioners. One conference session, entitled

“Multiple Diagnosis – What Are We Talking About?” resulted in stakeholders