Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment
Each week, the Higher Education Center showcases recent developments in the field of AOD abuse and violence prevention in higher education that may include new data and resources, upcoming events and programs, funding opportunities, and learning opportunities. To see a listing of previous This Week! features, visit the This Week! archive.
February 4, 2011
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a manual that describes the reasons individuals with substance use disorders who are in treatment are at high risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and how practitioners can more effectively screen for, and treat, these clients.
The publication, Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment: A Treatment Improvement Protocol (“TIP 50”), explains that screening those with substance use for suicidal thoughts and behaviors is very important, as the risk for a client’s potentially suicidal behavior may escalate at any point in the treatment process.
As SAMHSA explains, “Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are a significant indicator of other co-occurring disorders. . . . To improve outcomes in substance abuse treatment, these thoughts need to be explored and addressed.”
TIP 50 can be ordered through SAMHSA’s publications Web site.