| Abstract
| - Drug users requiring treatment are often encountered in social service settings such as community mental health agencies, health clinics, and welfare benefits offices. However, help with drug use may not be the overriding need presented to the provider. Frequently, assessment in these settings reveals the presence of problems in multiple areas of life functioning. This article examines the constellations and severity of problems reported by 182 treatment-seeking drug users during initial assessment and follow-up phases of participation in a study of referral to drug treatment. Cluster analyses were performed on the participants' problem severity scores at two points in time in eight life functioning domains: alcohol use, drug use, medical status, psychological status, legal status, employment/financial status, family/social relationships status, and housing status. Five clusters of types of problems were identified at each point, with indications of changes over time. Awareness of these differences may improve the service provider's ability to assist clients in obtaining appropriate services.
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