Background
Who is Monarch?
Monarch is a respected and trusted leader in the mental and behavioral health field. Originally the Arc of Stanly County, Inc., our organization was founded in 1958 to assist in the development and care of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DDs), and to help their families. In 2022, Monarch served more than 28,800 individuals with neurocognitive disorders, mental illness and substance use disorders from 97 counties across North Carolina.
Because Monarch is both a behavioral health and I/DD provider, we are uniquely positioned to create resources like “Understanding Addiction and Developmental Disabilities” that meet people and their support systems where they are. This curriculum offers accessible and easy-to-use resources that fulfill an emerging need not yet adequately addressed by the treatment community.
How was this developed?
The “Understanding Addiction and Developmental Disabilities” curriculum was developed with the assistance and consultation of experts in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Disorders. This group, along with individuals with lived experience and their families, determined which recovery topics to include and how to best present the information to be easy to understand and learn.
The curriculum is informed by evidence-based practices and was designed to meet the specific needs of the people who will benefit from it. The videos and companion materials provide a flexible and approachable program for discussion and learning that can be used with individuals or groups, showing what recovery looks like for the person with an addiction and those in their support system.
How serious are substance use disorders in the I/DD community?
This suggests a serious problem that is hard to study because:
- Current screening and assessment tools are inadequate.
- Substance use is often overlooked, and disorders remain undetected.
- People with I/DD or other cognitive impairments are less likely to seek help for a substance use disorder.
- Resources that are helpful for the general public fall short of meeting the needs of people with I/DD.
Addiction does not discriminate and the I/DD population is vulnerable:
- Those with disabilities may begin misusing substances to cope with chronic pain, social isolation, stigma related to their disabilities or traumas.
- People with an I/DD are living more independently which has led to greater susceptibility to alcohol and drug problems (The New Social Worker, Slayter).
- The physical effects of an intellectual disability can sometimes mask the signs of a substance abuse problem (The Recovery Village).
- Some treatment providers may be uncomfortable interacting with and unwilling to serve people with I/DD.
