Drug abuse and mental illness. Teamwork through networks of treatment across sectors A presentation of knowledge development for adult students in parttime education

In Norway today there are approximetly 4000 people with dual diagnosis containing a combination of severe mental illness and drug abuse. it is reason to believe that this figure is increasing. This group of clients has a comprehensive and complex need for support, and a satisfactory offer of service, demands effort from several professions. In cognition if the great challenges within treatment and supportive services for this group of clients, Nord-Trøndelag University College, har developed a new course. The course aims to teach professional staff in mental hospitals, local community health and social services, employment agencies, social security services, prison administration and police services more about interdisciplinary work. It is a main goal to bring these professions together to learn more about interdisciplinary work. Six local community groups participated in the course. Through lectures, supervision and excercises the student groups developed nes working methods towards people with dual diagnosis. Criteria that must be present to make interdisicplinary work successful were identified through the course. An important point within the course is that the students knowledge and know-how is developed by interaction with other students