Substance use and mental health problems: meeting the challenge

Dual diagnosis is a term used to describe co-existing substance misuse and mental health problems. Although mental health workers have encountered people with a dual diagnosis in the past, the need to address the problems in the context of community care has never been greater. Literature from the USA suggests that specialist services, which pool resources and skills, are required to provide the specialized support for this client group needs. Existing services in the UK remain specifically focused on substance misuse or mental health, yet the growing body of research indicates the efficacy of providing both services simultaneously, preferably as one discrete service. Finding a pragmatic approach to working with dually diagnosed clients and their families is a challenge to all mental health and drug/alcohol workers and this article describes the efforts of specialist teams to deliver such a service.