Date
11-2020
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Kimberly Chase-Brennan
Keywords
Opioid Use Disorder, Treatment
Disciplines
Counseling | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Parousis, Amy, "Effectiveness of Treatment Modalities for Those With Diagnosed Opioid Use Disorder and Co-occurring Disorders" (2020). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 2736.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/2736
Abstract
Substance abuse has always been an issue in society. As time has passed, the adverse consequences of substance abuse have become more evident. These consequences include physical and mental addiction, disruption of purposeful and productive everyday life, disruption of the family unit, spread of diseases, and death. Recently, the rate of overdose has rapidly increased due to the potency and accessibility of illicit opiates. Fentanyl and carfentanyl have been added to many opioid and non-opioid substances to provide a more euphoric experience, to intensify the addiction of the client, and for economic reasons because they are much more potent than heroin. Unfortunately, these products are often deadly, and the number of overdoses has increased 500 percent over the past ten years in the United States. Individuals with substance addiction are very likely to have a co-occurring mental illness. In 2017, 7.9 million patients had diagnosed with co-occurring disorders. Treatments for those with substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders are under constant scrutiny for their effectiveness. This study investigates the effectiveness of methadone maintenance treatment comparatively with non-methadone treatments for those with opioid use disorder and co-occurring disorders. The data was gathered from an anonymous behavioral health treatment facility that specialized in substance use disorders in southern Massachusetts. The study analyzed archival data from 1,000 clients’ treatment episodes over 1 year. The clients were randomly chosen, and treatment choices were identified. The length of time in treatment help to determine whether the treatment is successful or unsuccessful.
