Treatment and prevention of alcohol and drug abuse: coordination of professional services.
A need assessment evaluation among primary health and social professionals in two municipalities in Norway revealed that treatment services for alcohol and drug abuse were not satisfactorily coordinated. Conferences, work shops and consultation on a regular basis over a three year period increased the level of competence of the local health and social professionals and the coordination of treatment service in the two municipalities. Re-hospitalization of clients was significantly reduced and more clients received treatment and follow-up by local agencies. Impediments to an even better coordination of services wer conflicting ideologies concerning abuse and dependency, lack of simple and standardized assessment methods and the lack of time in the primary health and social system.
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000639:trends; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*