Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies (CJ-DATS): National Criminal Justice Treatment Practices (NCJTP) Survey of Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Disorder (COD) Treatment Services in Criminal Justice Settings, 2002-2008

A growing number of individuals in the criminal justice system suffer from co-occurring disorders (COD), the condition of simultaneous substance and mental disorders. As of yet, the population comprised of these individuals has not been thoroughly studied, despite the fact that COD-afflicted individuals pose unique clinical and administrative problems. The National Criminal Justice Treatment Practices (NCJTP) Survey of Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Disorder (COD) Treatment Facilities in Criminal Justice Settings attempts to address the lack of information regarding the facets of COD in the criminal justice system. Data collected through this survey was subjected to statistical methods in order to analyze the relationship between COD treatment and organizational aspects. Specifically, from each treatment program, the survey collected data on the number of program participants, proportion of participants with various mental disorders, specific disorder screening instruments used, etc. As for the administrative aspect, the survey determined the division of COD treatment (e.g. one clinician providing both substance abuse and mental disorder treatment versus separate clinicians providing treatment), administrators' opinions of the differences between COD and non-COD participants, and accreditations held by the treatment program.