Program administrators must strive to achieve integration by developing mechanisms to reinforce coordination between services and systems. Clinicians must develop assertive preventive measures. Actively and proactively addressing substance abuse as a destabilizing influence on mental illness and outcomes in substance abuse care is critical to any individualized treatment plan. Although clinicians must be sensitive to the civil liberties involved in close monitoring and coercive care, they also need to continually negotiate the appropriate amount of care and support provisions, towards a mutually identified goal. A longitudinal perspective is critical in working with individuals with co-occurring disorders.
Substance abuse is a chronic relapsing disorder.
Recovering, not recovered, is the message to be conveyed. Treatment occurs continually over years and progress can only be measured in those time frames. Cultural competence, community commitment, and client centeredness. Programs need to strive for diversity in staff and sensitivity to patients' perceived needs, cultural beliefs, and values. Community commitment means that providers need to see their programs as part of a network and become involved in the community.