The coexistence of both a mental health and a substance use disorder is referred to as co-occurring disorders.
Co-occurring disorders were previously referred to as dual diagnoses. According to SAMHSA’s 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) (PDF | 3.4 MB), approximately 7.9 million adults in the United States had co-occurring disorders in 2014.
People with mental health disorders are more likely than people without mental health disorders to experience an alcohol or substance use disorder. Co-occurring disorders can be difficult to diagnose due to the complexity of symptoms, as both may vary in severity. In many cases, people receive treatment for one disorder while the other disorder remains untreated. This may occur because both mental and substance use disorders can have biological, psychological, and social components. Other reasons may be inadequate provider training or screening, an overlap of symptoms, or that other health issues need to be addressed first. In any case, the consequences of undiagnosed, untreated, or undertreated co-occurring disorders can lead to a higher likelihood of experiencing homelessness, incarceration, medical illnesses, suicide, or even early death.
People with co-occurring disorders are best served through integrated treatment. With integrated treatment, practitioners can address mental and substance use disorders at the same time, often lowering costs and creating better outcomes. Increasing awareness and building capacity in service systems are important in helping identify and treat co-occurring disorders. Early detection and treatment can improve treatment outcomes and the quality of life for those who need these services.
Learn more about treatment for co-occurring mental and substance use disorders.
Addressing Co-occurring Disorders in Different Settings
SAMHSA offers guidance aimed at helping practitioners improve services to people with co-occurring disorders in the following social service settings:
- Co-occurring Disorders in the Criminal Justice System
- Co-occurring Disorders and Homelessness
- Co-occurring Disorders and Primary Care
- Co-occurring Disorders Among Veterans and the Military Community
Many people in the criminal justice system have co-occurring disorders. Providing integrated treatment to address mental and substance use disorders can lead to positive outcomes such as reduced substance use and arrests.
Failure to effectively screen and assess inmates with co-occurring disorders is a major concern in the criminal justice system. As part of the full protocol, an effective screening process should include the following:
- Routine screening at entry points to criminal justice settings
- Use of standardized instruments that include cut-off points to determine whether a person should be referred for a follow-up assessment
- Trained staff to administer the screening instruments and refer people for assessment
- A response for incarcerated people experiencing a behavioral health crisis, such as intoxication or drug use that requires medical attention, or if an individual is experiencing suicidal thoughts
- Health care records being maintained by the agency conducting the screening
Co-occurring disorders are common among people experiencing homelessness. This population often has a variety of issues that require services beyond behavioral health treatment, such as life skills development, employment assistance, and housing.
While treating people experiencing homeless who are suffering from co-occurring disorders through integrated care is important to recovery, few have access to it. People experiencing homelessness may be isolated or have little to no access to health and behavioral health services, and therefore their health issues may go undiagnosed or untreated. This can lead to chronic homelessness and further deterioration in physical and behavioral health, as well as social and economic functioning.
One way to improve access to integrated care for people experiencing homelessness is to implement integrated screening and assessment throughout the homeless system of care. Integrated screening determines the likelihood that people experiencing homelessness may or may not have co-occurring disorders or whether co-occurring disorders are influencing their presenting signs, symptoms, or behaviors. Assessment is an ongoing process of collecting and organizing clinical information, and interpreting the information on the basis of diagnostic criteria and professional judgment.
Learn about SAMHSA’s efforts to address homelessness and housing for people with mental and/or substance use disorders.
People who receive primary care often may have multiple health issues, including co-occurring disorders. Integrating behavioral and primary care is especially important to meeting their needs.
People with co-occurring disorders may seek primary care services first before seeking behavioral health services. As a result, primary care practitioners have unique opportunities to identify people with co-occurring disorders through screening. Screening for co-occurring disorders in primary care settings can assist practitioners in recognizing and addressing conditions early. Screening also can serve as a baseline to measure clinical progress.
A variety of screening and assessment tools are available for primary care practitioners. These screening and assessment tools can help determine if the need for further assessment is necessary, provide background on a client’s substance use and mental health disorders and the severity, and estimate how effective they respond to interventions.
Learn about SAMHSA’s efforts to promote health care and health systems integration.
Co-occurring disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use, is prevalent among veterans and the military community. According to the Veterans Affairs Department (VA), approximately one-third of veterans seeking treatment for substance use disorders also met the criteria for PTSD.
Veterans and service members benefit from integrated care for mental and substance use disorders. However, some veterans may not seek medical treatment for one of many reasons, including a fear of being treated differently.
To promote wellness among veterans, service members, and their families, practitioners are encouraged to collaborate with other organizations to develop a training plan in effective integrated care techniques. The following organizations provide guidance on treating PTSD and substance use disorders:
- PTSD: National Center for PTSD offers a continuing education course for practitioners on Managing PTSD and Co-occurring Substance Use Disorders.
- The VA provides VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of PTSD and Acute Stress Reaction, which offers guidance on screening, assessment, and treatment of PTSD and substance use disorders.
- The Alcohol Research & Health Journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides recommendations from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) for implementing quality care for individuals with co-occurring disorders.
- The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) provides some guidance on how comorbid conditions should be treated.
Learn about SAMHSA’s efforts to address the behavioral health needs of veterans and military families.
States working to improve treatment for people with co-occurring disorders have established practitioner competencies that define roles and create a common framework for working collaboratively across social service systems. These competencies have been developed as guidelines or checklists for clinical supervisors to use when assessing practitioner performance in providing integrated services. The competencies can be incorporated into existing job descriptions, training plans, supervision meetings, personal evaluation, and credentialing and licensure.
Learn more about Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) Kit – 2010 as well as SAMHSA’s efforts to grow the nation’s behavioral health workforce.