Psychiatric Services for Addicted Patients

The original task force report, completed in the summer of 1994, reflected the
current state of addiction treatment and provided recommendations for improving
these services in the future. That monograph is reproduced in this book, which
accomplishes the following: Define psychiatrists' current roles and practices
in the treatment of substance-dependent patients in relationship to that of
other practitioners, with particular attention to issues such as dual diagnosis,
methadone treatment, and detoxification Develop suggestions for appropriate
funding mechanisms for the payment of addicted patients' treatment in the
context of managed care and indemnity benefit programs Examine issues related
to the funding of public sector programs, including funding of Department of
Veterans Affairs programs, block grant funding of state and city programs, as
well as funding of voluntary treatment programs within and outside the criminal
justice system.

This book is divided into four sections. Chapter 1
reviews the history of American psychiatry's interest in addiction disorders and
the development of the current network of addiction treatment services. Chapter
2 is a snapshot of the current addiction treatment system, with a description of
the services provided in general medical settings, psychiatric hospitals,
freestanding residential facilities, and private practice and other outpatient
settings. Chapter 3 explores the economics of the treatment system: the costs of
addictive diseases to American society and the costs and sources of support for
their treatment. Chapter 4 examines the range of system modifications and
resource allocations needed to bring high quality, cost-effective treatment to
addicted patients and their families. These needs range from improving data
collection and treatment research to increasing community involvement and the
application of current research findings.