Housing for People with Substance Use and Concurrent Disorders: Summary of Literature and Annotated Bibliography

Housing for People with substance use and current disorders.pdf 

Housing for People with Substance Use and Concurrent Disorders: Summary of Literature and Annotated Bibliography

Dr. Julian Somers

Dr. Ernest Drucker

Dr. Jim Frankish

Dr. Brian Rush

Researched and Prepared for Vancouver Coastal Health The Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction Faculty of Health Sciences Simon Fraser University January 2007

Researchers at the Centre for Applied Research on Mental Health and Addiction(CARMHA) were contracted by Vancouver Coastal Health Authority to compile a brief,annotated bibliography focussing on the provision of housing for people with substance use and co-occurring mental disorders. A comprehensive literature review was completed. The list of publications and search methods are attached. The initial list was culled to extract those manuscripts with the greatest relevance. An expert panel reviewed each of the selected manuscripts and reached consensus on the major conclusions,implications, and quality of each paper. Finally, a brief synopsis of findings was produced.
Principal Finding
Stable housing is a fundamental need for all people, but this is especially true for individuals with substance use and mental disorders who also require varying levels of support commensurate with their needs. The preponderance of evidence indicates that supportive housing is an essential component of an effective overall therapeutic and rehabilitation strategy for individuals with dual diagnoses, and with careful planning and consultation, these programs can function well and be perceived as an asset to their communities and neighbourhoods.