Prioritizing Items on the Treatment Plan

After the client is safe and committed to treatment, other important problems may be addressed effectively. For a client with a drug problem, the next priority is to address problems directly related to drug use behavior. These problems in the third tier may include consequences of drug use in all the domains that have been discussed in this book, or may include behaviors that contribute to drug use. Many of those behaviors that contribute to drug use may be associated with other health or mental health problems. In such instances, a treatment plan will 

Tier-1 Problems Life-threatening problems, which must be addressed first. 

Tier-2 Problems Treatment-threatening problems, which should be addressed second. 

Tier-3 Problems Problems related to drug use and not linked to problems in Tiers I or 2, which should be addressed third. 

Tier-4 Problems Quality-of-life issues, which are addressed after Tiers 1-3 have been addressed. 

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