At the Intersection of Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health, and Cognitive Impairment
Substance Use and Cognitive Impairment
Studies show that anywhere from 30 - 80% of individuals seeking treatment for
Substance Use Disorders have some level of Cognitive Impairment
Cognitive impairment can come in many forms and result from a variety of causes, including:
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Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities,
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Traumatic Brain Injuries,
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Acquired or Toxic Brain Injuries (such as brain damage resulting from a drug overdose),
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Serious Mental Illness resulting in loss of cognitive functioning,
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Years of substance use resulting in loss of cognitive functioning.
While many in the substance use disorder (SUD) service delivery system are aware of the presence of individuals with Cognitive Impairment (CI) who need treatment, and the impact of CI on treatment outcomes, many service providers feel underprepared to identify and provide specialized treatment approaches to their clients with CI.
Mission
The mission of Dragonfly Consulting and Training LLC is to raise awareness of:
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the needs of individuals with CI presenting for SUD treatment;
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the impact of CI on treatment engagement and outcomes; and
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to prepare the SUD workforce to provide effective treatment to individuals with CI, thus improving treatment outcomes.
