HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL-ILLNESS IN A PROFESSIONAL-LED AND PEER-LED COCAINE TREATMENT CLINIC

The combined problems of substance abuse, mental illness, and homeless ness among the urban poor represent a major public health issue, The s tudy evaluated 340 patients attending a cocaine day treatment program that integrates peer leadership and professional supervision, Thirty-s ix percent of the sample had a major mental illness, and 39 percent we re homeless, Sixty-nine percent achieved an acceptable final urine tox icology status, and the median number of program visits was 46, Homele ssness, a longer history of cocaine use, and a diagnosis of schizophre nia were associated with positive treatment outcomes, The results supp ort the feasibility of a cocaine abuse treatment model combining profe ssional and peer leadership.