Treatment models for clients with co-occurring addictive and mental disorders

Recent epidemiologic studies conducted by the National Comorbidity Survey have indicated that up to 51% of individuals with a serious mental illness are also dependent on or addicted to illicit drugs. However, only 50% of these clients with cooccurring addictive and mental disorders receive treatment that addresses both issues. The author provides a historical overview of treatment philosophies and approaches, describes current treatment models, and reports on outcome data that describe the efficacy of current treatment. Recommendations are made for nurses to incorporate effective treatment models into nursing practice.