The Substance Dependency Department

Because mental health problems are often complicated by dependency on drugs or alcohol, or viceversa, the Substance Dependency Department (SDD) and the Mental Healthcare Department (MHD) work together closely.

The SDD was established in 1998, merging the preexisting Ser.T (Dependency Service) and Alcoholism Service, and is divided into 4 OUs that correspond to the Healthcare Districts and MHCs. It deals with prevention, care, rehabilitation and harm reduction in the area of pathological dependency, and provides outpatient, community, home care, semi-residential (2 Day Centres, Health Promotion Centre) and residential services (therapeutic communities, specialised residence and group homes for alcoholics) and also has a street unit, a street education programme and a special interdisciplinary prison OU (about 30% of inmates have dependency problems). The SDD seeks to prevent or reduce social/medical harm resulting from abuse and dependency, and also utilises occupational training and placement and socialisation interventions, and family participation.

The SDD has collaborated closely with local GPs for many years and, in fact, GPs currently treat nearly 200 persons with dependency problems in their own offices.

The collaboration between the MHD / SDD has resulted in common operational protocols for persons with several mental disorders who also abuse psycho-active substances (alcohol, other drugs) and provides for a series of specific resources and skills in order to respond to new and complex needs which effect young people, in particular.

Difficult cases are therefore dealt with by a mixed team of operators from both Departments, with a case manager to guarantee continuity and verfication of the personalised project. The protocol provides for a first joint evaluation within 24hrs for acute cases, with crisis interventions that can be carried out either at home, in day-hospital or in a MHC, or in the Psychiatric Diagnosis and Care Service in the General Hospital.

Illegal Substances Dependency OU
P.le Canestrini 9
Tel. 040 399 7324 – Fax 040 399 7358
e-mail: segr.sert@ass1.sanita.fvg.it

Legal Substances (alcohol) Dependency OU
Via Sai 5
Tel. 040 399 7371 – Fax 040 399 7358
e-mail: dipendenze.legali@ass1.sanita.fvg.it

AIDS / Harm Reduction Integrated OU
P.le Canestrini 9
Tel 040 399 7324 – 040 399 7369
e-mail: segr.sert@ass1.sanita.fvg.it