Assignment 2: Co-occurring Disorders

Ensuring delinquent youths receive adequate services when in detention is a crucial step in preventing recidivism. Examples of such services are education, vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and mental health treatment. While the treatment of a single disorder, such as alcohol dependence, is fairly straightforward, the treatment of co-occurring disorders is more complex and poses special challenges. The term “co-occurring disorders” refers to the presence of two or more disorders at the same time. A co-occurring disorder typically consists of a substance abuse issue and a mental health issue, but other combinations exist.

Tasks:

For this assignment, research co-occurring disorders, especially as they relate to youth in detention facilities, and present your findings in a 3- to 5-page paper. In particular, note which disorders are most commonly present at the same time.

In your paper, include answers to the following questions:

• What special problems do co-occurring disorders present to detention facility officials?
• Are co-occurring disorders classified in any particular way? Explain.
• What types of treatment methods are used to treat co-occurring disorders?
• What is the general prognosis for youth diagnosed with co-occurring disorders?