Chapter List Guidelines In a nutshellAbout these guidelinesPart A: About co-occurring conditionsA1: What are co-occurring conditions?A2: How common are co-occurring conditions and why are they of concern?A3: Guiding principlesFirst, do no harmWork within your capacityEngage in ongoing professional developmentRecognise that the management of co-occurring conditions is part of AOD workers’ core businessProvide equity of access to careAdopt a ‘no wrong door’ policyRecognise that co-occurring conditions are common and all clients should be routinely screenedConduct ongoing monitoring of symptoms and assessment of client outcomesFocus on engaging the client in treatmentAdopt a holistic approach that focuses on treating the person, not the illnessAdopt a client-centred approachAdopt a trauma-informed care approachEmphasise the collaborative nature of treatmentHave realistic expectationsExpress confidence in the effectiveness of the treatment programAdopt a non-judgemental attitudeAdopt a non-confrontational approach to treatmentInvolve families and carers in treatmentInvolve peers in treatmentConsult and collaborate with other health care providersEnsure continuity of careA4: Classification of disordersPart B: Responding to co-occurring conditionsPart C: Specific population groupsAppendicesAbbreviationsGlossaryReferencesDisclaimer and acknowledgements Download full Guidelines Order a free hard copy Involve peers in treatment Download page Peer workers play an important role in the delivery of treatment for people with co-occurring conditions. Peers provide important connections for clients, which may complement the therapeutic alliance formed with an AOD worker [148]. Clients also view peers as useful for helping to de-stigmatise their AOD use and mental health conditions [130]. There is some preliminary evidence to suggest that more formal peer recovery support services are helpful across a number of AOD treatment settings in terms of reducing AOD use and relapse rates, improving relationships with AOD workers and social supports, as well as increasing retention in and satisfaction with treatment [149]. Download section Previous Next