Joe's Case Study and Evidence Based Practice Essay

Total Length: 733 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

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Working with Clients with Dual Diagnosis: The Case of Joe," (n.d.) shows how social policies can directly affect the lives of individuals, impacting their access to and awareness of care options and the availability of specific services. Moreover, social policies can influence mental health practitioners, reinforcing stereotypes and stigmas toward patients with substance abuse disorders in particular. A systematic review of the literature reveals "negative attitudes of health professionals towards patients with substance use disorders are common and contribute to suboptimal health care for these patients," (Boekel, Brouwers, van Weeghel & Garresten, 2013, p. 23). Social workers are at the forefront of substance abuse treatment, as social work professionals "regularly encounter individuals, families, and communities affected by substance use disorders," including co-occurring disorders as in Joe's case (NASW, 2013, p. 5). Therefore, in addition to their role in reducing stigma and ensuring evidence-based practice in mental health care, social workers need to consider their role as catalysts for social policy reform.



Joe's case demonstrates the importance of three core elements of social work: competency, evidence-based practice, and client confidentiality. All three of these issues are covered by the NASW (2013) in its specific approach to mental health and substance use disorders.

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Competency refers to a working command of recent health care policy as well as best practices. Therefore, competency is linked with the concept of evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice ensures that social workers rely on research to guide best practices, and that professional expertise is directly supported by scientific research. In fact, evidence-based practice is requisite in order for clients like Joe to qualify for third party payers (NASW, 2013). Client confidentiality is an ethical priority for all case workers. Preserving client confidentiality is a sign of respect for the client and helps engender the type of trust that can be conducive to healing. Ideally, the social worker in Joe's case recognizes the inherent harm that the war on drugs creates, and advocate on behalf of Joe. Social work aims to reduce harm, which means refusing to place moral judgments on people like Joe and to especially refrain from criminalizing the client or diverting clients into the criminal justice system.



However, social workers also understand how policies constrain their ability to take action to help people like Joe. Joe's case exhibits gaps in service delivery related to intersectionality and social class status. Guiding principles….....

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References

Boekel, L.C., Brouwers, E.P.M., van Weeghel, J. & Garresten, H.F.L (2013). Stigma among health professionals towards patients with substance use disorders and its consequences for healthcare delivery: Systematic review. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 131(1-2): 23-35.

NASW (2013). Clients with Substance Abuse Disorders. Retrieved online: https://www.socialworkers.org/practice/standards/NASWATODStatndards.pdf

"Working with Clients with Dual Diagnosis: The Case of Joe," (n.d.).

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