Community-based co-occurring disorder (COD) intermediate and advanced treatment for offenders

Area of Science:

• Criminal Justice
• Psychiatry
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Growing concerns regarding the effectiveness of treatment for co-occurring disorders (COD) within the criminal justice system.
• Need for a clear typology of treatment levels for offenders with substance use and mental health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide empirical evidence for a typology of COD treatment levels for offenders in correctional and community settings.
• To investigate differences between intermediate and advanced COD treatment programs.

Main Methods:

• National survey of program directors.
• Comparative analysis of treatment programming for single versus integrated disorders.

Main Results:

• Intermediate and advanced COD programs showed similarities in substance abuse treatment approaches.
• Advanced programs demonstrated significantly greater use of evidence- and consensus-based practices for mental disorder treatment.
• A distinction between intermediate and advanced services for offenders with COD is supported.

Conclusions:

• Advanced COD treatment programs effectively integrate evidence-based practices for both substance use and mental health disorders.
• The proposed typology supports classifying advanced programs by their integrated, evidence-based approach to dual diagnoses.