 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Jennifer Alvidrez, PhD1, Dawn Kaiser, LCSW1, and Barbara E. Havassy, PhD2. (1) School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, Treatment Outcome Research Group, 2186 Geary Blvd., Suites 103-104, San Francisco, CA 94115, 415-514-9282, alvid@itsa.ucsf.edu, (2) School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Treatment Outcome Research Group, University of California, San Francisco, 2186 Geary Blvd., Suites 103-104, San Francisco, CA 94115
Although the prevalence of drug use among severely mentally ill (SMI) adults is high, few studies have examined drug treatment issues for this complex population. This qualitative study examines treatment barriers and experiences of SMI clients with drug problems. We conducted interviews with 24 SMI clients with a history of community drug treatment in San Francisco. Interviews were transcribed and coded to identify major themes related to treatment. Participants believed that drug use was both common and debilitating among SMI adults. Most felt that drug treatment was helpful for those truly committed to abstinence but that many SMI individuals did not believe abstinence was possible or desirable. As a result, many enter community treatment for the food, shelter, and activities provided in these settings rather than a desire for treatment. Participants also believed that the reliance on self-help or group treatment in many settings was problematic for SMI adults. Many reported feeling too shy or intimidated to speak in groups or that other group members were judgmental about their appearance or behavior. Helpful treatment experiences included working individually with counselors and participating in dual-diagnosis groups, where others understood their experiences and mental health issues could be discussed openly. Results from this study highlight the acceptability of different aspects of existing drug treatments for SMI adults. In particular, treatments requiring a commitment to abstinence or relying exclusively on group formats may not be optimal for this population. Harm reduction models that involve individual counseling and dual-diagnosis groups may be more acceptable.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.