New Directions in Rehabilitation Counseling for Individuals With Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

People with disabilities and people with substance use disorders (SUDs) often experience challenges with psychosocial and vocational adjustment. When someone has both a disability and a co-occurring SUD, existing challenges can be exacerbated and newer, unique challenges may arise. Individuals with disabilities and co-occurring SUDs are often underrepresented in both VR programs and addictions treatment settings. The aims of this article are to first describe the SUD epidemic among those with disabilities and examine specific disability populations that are at an increased risk for SUDs, and second to advocate for an integrated treatment approach and provide specific implications and strategies when serving this population in the VR phases of eligibility determination, job development and placement, and job retention and follow-up.