Mental Health & Chemical Dependency Treatment

Mental illness and substance abuse often occur together and require treatment that focuses on both conditions simultaneously. Dual diagnosis treatment is available at community mental health centers and other mental health clinics.

Prevalence

• Approximately 29 percent of the mentally ill abuse alcohol or other drugs. Approximately 43 percent of individuals with a substance abuse disorder in the past 12 months also had at least one mental illness diagnosis in the past 12 months.

Significance

• Individuals with mental illness and a substance abuse disorder are more likely to be incarcerated in jail or homeless than the general population. Treatment that does not adequately address both mental illness and substance abuse leads to poor treatment outcomes.

Diagnosis

• A diagnosis of mental illness and a substance abuse disorder is typically made by a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist or other qualified mental health professional.

Types

• Types of treatment for mental illness that is co-morbid with substance abuse include inpatient hospitalization, residential facilities, therapy, medication management and treatment for specific associated problems, including supported employment services to help obtain and maintain work and case management to help locate necessary treatment resources, money management and obtain housing and other assistance.

Considerations

• Treatment provided at the same location providing services for both mental health and substance abuse is most likely to lead to successful treatment outcomes. The treatment should address all factors associated with both disorders, including medical factors, such as treating current health problems and psychotropic medications for treating mental illness symptoms, psychological factors, such as developing coping skills for managing anxiety and depression other than substance use and social factors, such as lack of housing and unemployment.