Meeting the needs of dual diagnosis in consumers in residential mental health rehabilitation (Letter)

Abstract

Dear Sir,

Lifetime alcohol/substance use disorder rates in Australians affected by psychotic disorders exceed 50%.1,2 Co-morbid substance use is associated with illness severity, relapse, re-hospitalisation, and risks of violence and homelessness.3 Despite the significance of this problem, a lack of integration between mental health and substance abuse treatment persists. Established interventions may require adaptation to meet dual diagnosis consumers’ needs.2 Disparate conceptual frameworks contribute to the risk of dual diagnosis consumers falling through the cracks, with neither service type taking responsibility for providing relevant support.