The "concerned other" call: Using family links and networks to overcome resistance to addiction treatment

Untreated chemical dependency costs the United States over $165 billion ann ually. Meanwhile, treatment offsets these costs by a ratio of $7 saved for every $1 spent. But the vast majority of chemically dependent people (CDPs) remain uninvolved in either treatment or self-help groups. It is therefore imperative that more effective ways be developed for therapeutically engag ing them. One avenue is to maximize the opportunity presented when a "conce rned other" (CO) person-such as a family member, friend, coworker, or clerg y member-contacts a treatment agency to get help for a CDP. This paper prov ides a method for handing such calls. Specific guidelines are presented as to (a) the kind of information to be gathered, (b) procedures to be followe d, and (c) options to be offered toward mobilizing the CO and other family/ social network members in successfully effecting CDP treatment engagement.