A Public Dual Diagnosis Detoxification Unit: Part I: Organization and Structure

A significant proportion of the nearly 1 million individuals with chronic mental illness in this country have problems with chemical dependency (CD), This problem is particularly germane among the almost 3 million homeless individuals in the United States. Traditional models for treating CD and psychiatric illness autonomously are not adequate for this population. This two-part article describes a cost-efficient detoxification, stabilization treatment unit, primarily for a homeless or homeless-prone population with comorbid CD and mental illness. In Part I, the authors discuss the overall treatment philosophy, staffing requirements, and specialized approaches designed for this heterogeneous population.