Substance Use, Concurrent Disorders and Gambling Problems in Ontario: A Guide for Helping Professionals

^{© 2009 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health}

This guide provides what hasn’t previously been available—a concise book encapsulating the key issues that helping professionals will need in order to address substance use, concurrent disorders and gambling problems in the people they see. 

Without specializing in mental health or addiction, helping professionals can make a significant difference in whether people address these problems. Even brief interventions can make a huge difference in their lives.

Substance Use, Concurrent Disorders and Gambling Problems in Ontario: A Guide for Helping Professionals will help you to be aware, sensitive and skilled in screening for these problems in the people you see.

It will also provide you with the necessary tools to refer people for treatment or—if you have the appropriate training—to provide basic counselling.

This book includes:

• ways to establish rapport with clients
• tips for asking the difficult questions
• insight into the role of stigma in how professionals respond to people with these kinds of problems
• a discussion of how culture influences people’s perception of these problems
• information on the latest screening tools for substance use, concurrent disorders and gambling problems
• motivational interviewing techniques
• a discussion of stages of change as they relate to substance use and gambling problems
• information on involving and supporting family members
• a listing of relevant CAMH resources and publications
• an appendix of treatment and support services in Ontario.

The book is a valuable resource for people working in doctors’ offices, community health centres, child and family services, or any other health or social service organization.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Why this guide?

Who should read this guide?

How to use this guide

An overview

Stigma

Screening

A note about harm reduction

A note about language

Section 1: Building a relationship

Establishing rapport

Asking the difficult questions

Addressing immediate concerns

Providing culturally sensitive care

Involving the family

Section 2: Substance use

Why we should care

Types of substance use

How to screen for substance use problems

Knowing when to be concerned

Warning signs

Responding when substance use problems are unlikely

Discussing and acting on concerns

Identifying which “stage of change” the client is experiencing

Building motivation to make changes

Strengthening commitment to change

Section 3: Concurrent substance use and mental health problems

Why we should care

Understanding concurrent disorders

How to screen for concurrent disorders

Building motivation to make changes

Section 4: Problem gambling

Why we should care

Understanding what problem gambling is

Recognizing the impact of a gambling problem

Knowing who’s at risk

Recognizing the signs of a possible gambling problem

How to screen for gambling problems

Navigating the stages of change

Building motivation to make changes

Involving the family

Section 5: Treatment choices

Your first contact: ConnexOntario Health Services Information

Preparing for treatment

Answering common questions about treatment

Supporting family members

References

Appendices

Appendix A: Provincial programs

Appendix B: CAMH resources and publications

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