Co-existing mental health + substance use problems

Learn About Co-existing Problems

A co-existing problem occurs when we have a mental health problem and, at the same time, use substances in ways that could result in significant harm. It is not known how many people experience this dual problem (sometimes called a 'concurrent disorder'). But a national study in the United States, looking at mental illness alongside substance use in a lifetime, suggests about half of the people experiencing a mental illness also struggle with a substance use problem, and vice versa.

Understanding Substance Use

Health is a state of total well-being—physical, mental and social—helping us both survive and thrive in our everyday lives.

Opioids

PDF | EPUB | Vol. 13, No. 3 (2018)

The Language We Use to Talk About Mental Health and Substance Use

Words matter. They impact the assumptions we make about others, the way we understand someone else’s experiences, and the value we place on others.

Treatments: What Works?

It seems like everyone has an opinion when it comes to treatments for mental health or substance use problems. To add to the confusion, it isn’t always obvious who is basing their opinions on real evidence and who is not. And while we often hear people talk about evidence-based treatments, it’s also clear that complementary and alternative medicine approaches are helpful for some.

Finding the Right Help - Navigating the System

While it's common to talk about the mental health system, the system isn’t a singular entity. The system might include primary care, mental health, substance use, housing, income assistance, and justice. They are not always accessed the same way, through similar gatekeepers.

Recovery

When we talk about mental illnesses and substance use problems, it’s easy to talk in clinical terms: that person has this symptom, or that person uses a certain drug. But recovery is so much bigger than a checklist.