Adopt a holistic approach that focuses on treating the person, not the illness

The primary goal of AOD treatment services is to address clients’ AOD use. In order to do so effectively, AOD workers must take into account the broad range of issues that clients present with, including their mental health. When considering co-occurring conditions, one cannot look at the person’s AOD use and mental health alone. Clients with co-occurring conditions often have a variety of other medical, family, and social problems (e.g., housing, employment, welfare, and legal problems). These problems may be contributing to the client’s AOD and mental health conditions, or they may be the product of their AOD and mental health conditions. Indeed, clients appreciate when services have recognised and addressed connections between co-occurring issues and other aspects of their life [125], and express greater satisfaction with care when it focuses on their AOD use while supporting their other needs [128]. Clients also need to be viewed in light of their age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, ethnicity, spirituality, socioeconomic status, and cognitive abilities.