The Effectiveness Of Social Interventions For Homeless Substance Abusers

This resource is devoted exclusively to reporting the results of rigorous research concerning substance abuse treatment outcomes for homeless persons. The Effectiveness of Social Interventions for Homeless Substance Abusers reveals that while dropout rates are high for this population, it is essential to develop treatment programs that not only focus on the addiction, but also address the tangible needs of the homeless, notably housing, income support, and employment.

Estimates indicate that as many as 1 in 4 Americans will experience a mental health problem or will misuse alcohol or drugs in their lifetimes. These disorders are among the most highly stigmatized health conditions in the United States, and they remain barriers to full participation in society in areas as basic as education, housing, and employment. Improving the lives of people with mental health and substance abuse disorders has been a priority in the United States for more than 50 years. The Community Mental Health Act of 1963 is considered a major turning point in America's efforts to improve behavioral healthcare. It ushered in an era of optimism and hope and laid the groundwork for the consumer movement and new models of recovery. The consumer movement gave voice to people with mental and substance use disorders and brought their perspectives and experience into national discussions about mental health. However over the same 50-year period, positive change in American public attitudes and beliefs about mental and substance use disorders has lagged behind these advances. Stigma is a complex social phenomenon based on a relationship between an attribute and a stereotype that assigns undesirable labels, qualities, and behaviors to a person with that attribute. Labeled individuals are then socially devalued, which leads to inequality and discrimination. This report contributes to national efforts to understand and change attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that can lead to stigma and discrimination. Changing stigma in a lasting way will require coordinated efforts, which are based on the best possible evidence, supported at the national level with multiyear funding, and planned and implemented by an effective coalition of representative stakeholders. Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders: The Evidence for Stigma Change explores stigma and discrimination faced by individuals with mental or substance use disorders and recommends effective strategies for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek treatment and other supportive services. It offers a set of conclusions and recommendations about successful stigma change strategies and the research needed to inform and evaluate these efforts in the United States.

A Treatment Improvement Protocol on case management, which can be described as a coordinated approach to the delivery of health, substance abuse, mental health, & social services, linking clients with appropriate services to address specific needs & achieve stated goals. Case management lends itself to the treatment of substance abuse, particularly for clients with other disorders & conditions who require multiple services over extended periods of time & who face difficulty in gaining access to those services. This report details the factors that programs should consider as they decide to implement case management or modify their current case management activities.

Case management has been variously classified as a skill group, a core function, service coordination, or a network of "friendly neighbors." Although it defies precise definition, case management generally can be described as a coordinated approach to the delivery of health, substance abuse, mental health, and social services, linking clients with appropriate services to address specific needs and achieve stated goals. The Consensus Panel that developed this TIP believes that case management lends itself to the treatment of substance abuse, particularly for clients with other disorders and conditions who require multiple services over extended periods of time and who face difficulty in gaining access to those services. This document details the factors that programs should consider as they decide to implement case management or modify their current case management activities. This summary is excerpted from the main text, in which references to the research appear.

Comprehensive and current Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling, Third Edition introduces students to the field of addiction counseling and helps them develop the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to counsel people who are caught in the destructive cycle of addiction. Drawing from her years of experience working in the addiction-counseling field, Geri Miller provides a balanced overview of the major theoretical underpinnings and clinical practices in the field, covering all of the essentials—from assessment and diagnosis of addiction to preparing for certification and licensure as an addiction professional. Fully revised and expanded, the Third Edition offers a positive, practice-oriented counseling framework and features: Revised chapters reflecting important changes in the field New chapters on "Spirituality and Addiction Counseling" and "Pain and Substance Abuse" New case studies, interactive exercises, and suggested reading and resources at the end of each chapter "Personal Reflections" sections in each chapter illustrating the author's evolving views of addiction counseling New online Instructor's Manual containing PowerPoint® slides, test bank questions, and syllabi

An important contribution to the understanding of the unique circumstances and needs of the homeless, Diversity Within the Homeless Population examines why more and more women and their children, adolescents, and young adults are ending up on the street. You will learn about unique treatment and community intervention programs, preventive approaches that target those at risk for future homelessness, and case management as a strategy for preventing the initial experience of homelessness. You will also learn about the ”behavioral” factors that differentiate homeless women with children from impoverished women with children who remain housed, including domestic violence, degree of education, number of children, traumatic experiences, and use of drugs. You’ll find this dynamic book takes a giant step toward the development and evaluation of strategies for preventing and alleviating this urgent social problem. In doing so, Diversity Within the Homeless Population explores the benefits of family-oriented treatment, ways to make housing available to the homeless through employment opportunities, and the effectiveness of linking inpatient treatment to a culturally sensitive, community-based intervention program. You will also learn about: the lack of personal support networks among the homeless crack/cocaine use and homelessness among inner-city communities preventing relapse among crack-using homeless women with children the “Needs Foundation” in Chicago social and environmental predictors of adjustment in homeless children homelessness and how it compromises the behavioral, physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development of children hierarchical multiple regression analyses system and agency demands on case managers As a researcher, social worker, psychologist, or counselor who works with the homeless, you face extraordinary adversity on a daily basis; this book offers you hope, guidance, insight, and intervention strategies that will aid you in tackling this enormous social problem. Diversity Within the Homeless Population provides you with a storehouse of ideas that you’ll implement in your own practice or community.

A readerʼs guide is provided to assist readers in locating entries on related topics. It classifies entries into 14 general categories: Causes, Cities, Demography and Characteristics, Health issues, History, Housing, Legal issues, Advocacy and policy, Lifestyle issues, Organizations, Perceptions of homelessness, Populations, Research, Service systems and settings, World perspectives and issues.

Drug abuse has emerged as the leading factor associated with transmission of HIV, and AIDS is the leading cause of mortality among drug-dependent individuals. Through Effects of Substance Abuse Treatment on AIDS Risk Behaviors, you will discover how drug treatment programs are becoming instrumental in reducing the risks of HIV/AIDS among substance abusers. Needle sharing is a major contributor to contracting HIV/AIDS but, as this book shows you, sexual risk behaviors from sex-trade workers, as well as risky behaviors due to the influence of cocaine and methamphetamines, contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS. From Effects of Substance Abuse Treatment on AIDS Risk Behaviors, you will discover drug abuse treatment methods that will reduce the number of injection episodes and reduce injection use in higher risk settings, such as shooting galleries, thereby reducing your clients’risk of infection. Effects of Substance Abuse Treatment on AIDS Risk Behaviors reveals the stark realities regarding substance abusers and HIV risk. Through this compelling book, you will gain new insight into how you can help drug abusers avoid contracting HIV/AIDS by: discussing intervention methods that do not adhere to abstinence-based treatment models, such as reducing a stimulant binge by one day examining the dangerous effects that methadone clinics, who discharge patients for cocaine use, can have on the reduction of risk behaviors among heroine addicts discovering the correlation that exists between the fact that opioid-dependent individuals who have more drug and legal problems are at a higher risk for AIDS risk behaviors With Effects of Substance Abuse Treatment on AIDS Risk Behaviors, you will discover how stimulant drug treatment in itself represents a potentially powerful HIV prevention method by allowing the individual to make more thoughtful decisions regarding their sexual behaviors. Through this insightful volume, you will also learn essential information pertaining to different regions of the country, allowing you to effectively tailor your treatment program for your community. For example, in urban areas of the Western United States, the greatest risk of HIV infection is from non-injected stimulants. Effects of Substance Abuse Treatment on AIDS Risk Behaviors will prove to you how drug treatment programs can significantly reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and make lower infection rates a reality.