Missed opportunities in the field: caring for clients with co-morbidity problems

This discussion paper presents key issues associated with caring for people with concurrent alcohol or drug and mental health problems. By way of anecdotal stories and personal experiences, it draws attention to 'missed opportunities' for effective care of clients within a general hospital and community mental health service. As educators, inicians and students, we are concerned our own attempts to improve the care of these clients may have been less than successful due to various factors, and believe such information is important to share with the wider nursing profession. We hope the paper will stimulate interest amongst general, mental health and drug and alcohol nurses, and researchers and educators to better address the issue of alcohol, drug and mental health co-morbidity in our community.