Substance use disorders

There is a growing body of research on substance use and substance use disorders among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have been identified as a group at risk. Use of alcohol, tobacco and/or illicit drugs is prevalent, especially among those with mild to borderline intellectual and developmental disabilities. Epidemiological studies however have many shortcomings and valid measurement instruments are largely lacking. Though educational and intervention programs to educate clients about the adverse effects of tobacco and alcohol use, and to reduce the actual use of these substances have been evaluated, the evidence-base of these interventions remains small. In this chapter we propose a range of measures to improve policy and practice concerning case identification, and diagnosing and treating substance use disorders, such as the need for more cross-system collaboration and the use of integrated treatment approaches for the benefit of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.