“The reality is that substance abuse and mental illness often go hand in hand, yet diagnosing both concurrently is challenging and sometimes overlooked. Identifying and treating both mental illness and substance abuse simultaneously is imperative in achieving a successful and more hopeful outcome. Fortunately, we are seeing a paradigm shift and these co- occurring disorders are much more likely to be identified earlier in treatment,” said Lisa Ransford, LPC, CAC II, a member of The Therapist Group of Maria Droste Counseling Center.
In December 2012, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a report, Results from the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Finding. This report presents results from the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
It found that among the 45.6 million adults aged 18 or older with any mental illness in the past year, 17.5 percent (8 million adults) met criteria for substance use disorder. Among the 11.5 million adults with serious mental illness in the past year, 22.6 percent also had past year substance dependence or abuse. In comparison, only 5.8 percent of adults who did not have mental illness in the past year (10.9 million adults) met criteria for substance use disorder.
These results emphasize the co-occurrence of mental illness and substance abuse. When they co-occur, it is imperative that treatment addresses both issues. Those who are struggling with mental illness and/or substance abuse can find help at Maria Droste Counseling Center. Visit www.mariadroste.org for more information.
Since 1989, Maria Droste Counseling Center has worked to ensure the availability of affordable counseling services to everyone in the community. It strives to provide the absolute highest quality mental health care to those in need, regardless of their ability to pay.
