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Newsbrief:
SAMHSA
Says
Treat
Drug
Abusers'
Mental
Illness
12/13/02
In a report sent to Congress
this week, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMSHA) found that mental illness is common among alcoholics and drug
abusers, but that such "dual diagnosis" persons rarely receive treatment
for both at the same time. For the government to get the most value
from its treatment programs, SAMSHA found, it must break down the "firewall"
between treatment for addiction and treatment for mental disorders.
According to the report,
about one-third of drug and/or alcohol abusers also suffer from mental
illness. Persons with mental illness are three times more likely
to be substance abusers, SAMHSA found, with an estimated 7 to 10 million
persons fitting the "dual diagnosis" criteria.
In the report, SAMSHA announced
that it would take several steps to integrate mental health and drug treatment
for those who need it. Those include federal financial incentives
for states to enact integrated programs, incentives to combine therapy
with medication in long-term treatment programs, a "tool kit" to help local
agencies replicate successful programs, and a "national summit" sponsored
by SAMHSA next year for treatment and criminal justice professionals and
consumer advocates.
Visit http://www.samhsa.gov/news/cl_congress2002.html
to read SAMHSA's "Report to Congress on the Treatment and Prevention of
Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Disorders."
-- END --
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Issue #267, 12/13/02
DRCNet Needs Your Help! | Editorial: O, Canada! (Oh, the Embarrassment!) | Canadian House Drugs Committee Calls for Cannabis Decrim, Safe Injection Sites, Heroin Maintenance | Canadian Justice Minister Calls for Cannabis Decrim "Early Next Year" -- US Opposition Could Pose Obstacle | Britain Drops Old Drug Strategy Targets, Goals Were "Not Credible" -- New Strategy a Mixed Bag | Michigan Legislature Repeals Draconian Mandatory Minimum Drug Sentences | New Jersey Court Declares State's Civil Forfeiture Funding Scheme Unconstitutional | Newsbrief: Santa Cruz Deputizes Medical Marijuana Providers | Newsbrief: Massachusetts High Court Blocks Arrest of Needle Exchange Participants | Newsbrief: Colombia -- It's Drug War -- No, Oil War -- No, Terror War | Newsbrief: British Ex-Minister Calls Ecstasy Law "An Ass" | Newsbrief: Israeli Green Leaf Party Eyes Knesset Seats | Newsbrief: Illinois Supreme Court Limits Use of Drug Dogs in Traffic Stops | Newsbrief: Paramilitary Drug Raid Tactics Anger Eugene Residents | Newsbrief: This Week's Corrupt Cop Story | Newsbrief: SAMHSA Says Treat Drug Abusers' Mental Illness | Media and Resources: Medical Cannabis Conference Tapes, WOLA Report, Jacob Sullum in Reason, Deborah Saunders in SF Chronicle | Action Alerts: Rave Bill, Medical Marijuana, Higher Education Act Drug Provision, Tulia, Salvia Divinorum | The Reformer's Calendar
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