The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently released a Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) for people with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. It is estimated that 20-50 percent of individuals in mental health treatment programs, and 50-75 percent of those in substance abuse settings, have co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders. TIP 42, "Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons with Co-Occurring Disorders," emphasizes that outcomes for these patients are enhanced when both illnesses are addressed using an integrated approach, although at present most people with
co-occurring disorders do not receive integrated treatment.

TIP 42 is designed primarily for people in the substance abuse treatment and mental health fields. The resource provides counselors with principles, assessment instruments, strategies, and models for treating patients in various settings, including substance abuse treatment facilities, mental health facilities, medical offices or clinics. SAMHSA also anticipates that TIP 42 will be useful for administrators, primary care providers, criminal justice staff and other health care and social service personnel who work with people with co-occurring disorders.

To learn more about TIP 42, click here.

The TIP is not yet available online, but will be shortly at SAMHSA's National Clearninghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) web site. A hard copy can be ordered by phone (1-800-729-6686) or mail:

National Clearninghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
PO Box 2345
Rockville, MD 20847-2345