SOCW 6202 Week 7 - Discussion: Working With Special Populations

Week 7: Special Populations and Co-Occurring Disorders

Addressing the needs of special populations and co-occurring disorders can be a challenging aspect of working in addictions. This week, you analyze challenges in treating special populations. Then, you evaluate strategies for addressing co-occurring disorders by creating a 30-day addiction treatment plan for a client.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Analyze special population challenges in treatment of addictions

· Evaluate strategies for overcoming challenges in treating special populations

· Evaluate addiction treatment plans for special populations

Learning Resources

Note:  To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the  Course Materials  section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

Doweiko, H. E. (2019). Concepts of chemical dependency (10th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage.

· Chapter 19, "Hidden Faces of Substance Use Disorders" (pp. 251-259)

Coleman-Cowger, V. H. (2012). Mental health treatment need among pregnant and postpartum women/girls entering substance abuse treatment. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 26(2), 345–350.

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2012, January 12). Older adult substance abuse treatment admissions have increased; Number of special treatment programs for this population has decreased. Data Spotlight, Drug and Alcohol Information System. Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov/data/spotlight/WEB_SPOT_043/WEB_SPOT_043.pdf

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration , Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2012). Older adult substance abuse treatment admissions have increased; number of special treatment programs for this population has descreased. Retrieved from website: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/spotlight/WEB_SPOT_043/WEB_SPOT_043.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2005). Substance abuse treatment for persons with co-occurring disorders (DHHS Publication No. SMA 05-3992). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64197/

Document: SPP Treatment Plan Template (Word document)

Use this document to complete this week's Assignment.

Discussion: Working With Special Populations

Addiction is an equal opportunity disease. It knows no boundaries and affects all segments of the population regardless of race, culture, age, class, or other differences. Although no segment of the population is immune to addiction, there are certain segments that are more vulnerable than others.

Vulnerable populations are referred to as special populations and include many diverse groups including the homeless, ethnic minorities, the elderly, the gay and lesbian population, persons with disabilities, prisoners, and pregnant women. The members of these special populations have unique needs that present challenges you may not encounter when working with other populations.

Provide a 300-word discussion Post 

· A description of a special population (Homeless Veterans) that you may work with as a helping professional.

· Explain two challenges that you might encounter when working with this special population.

· Explain two potential strategies that you might use to overcome those challenges.

· Explain why these strategies might be effective. Support your response using the resources and the current literature.

Must contain at least 4 references and citations from the following materials:

Doweiko, H. E. (2019). Concepts of chemical dependency (10th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage.

· Chapter 19, "Hidden Faces of Substance Use Disorders" (pp. 251-259)

Coleman-Cowger, V. H. (2012). Mental health treatment need among pregnant and postpartum women/girls entering substance abuse treatment. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 26(2), 345–350.

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2012, January 12). Older adult substance abuse treatment admissions have increased; Number of special treatment programs for this population has decreased. Data Spotlight, Drug and Alcohol Information System. Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov/data/spotlight/WEB_SPOT_043/WEB_SPOT_043.pdf

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration , Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2012). Older adult substance abuse treatment admissions have increased; number of special treatment programs for this population has descreased. Retrieved from website: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/spotlight/WEB_SPOT_043/WEB_SPOT_043.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2005). Substance abuse treatment for persons with co-occurring disorders (DHHS Publication No. SMA 05-3992). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64197/