Learning objectives:

1. Discuss the prevalence of co-occurring disorders; substance use disorders and mental health disorders.
2. Discuss the current evidence and research gaps for co-treating mental health and substance use and discuss lessons learned from COVID that can be translated to long-standing policy change to support integrated care.
3. Discuss the current treatment modalities, both traditional and alternative, for co-occurring disorders.
4. Identify influencing factors that sustain stigma associated with mental health and substance use disorders and how healthcare professionals can help change the narrative by using de-stigmatizing language.

Abstract:

Thirty-five million people globally suffer from substance use disorders while only five million receive treatment (World Drug Report, 2019). One out of eight persons around the world suffer mental health disorders with depression and anxiety the leading diagnoses (WHO, 2019). The National Survey on Drug Use and Health in the USA (2020) documented that seventeen million people, ages eighteen or older, have both a substance use disorder and a psychiatric disorder. Untreated co-occurring disorders lead to premature morbidity and mortality (Lauritzen & Nordfjærn, 2018) and half the population seeking SUD treatment drops out of programs prematurely, often related to a co-occurring psychiatric diagnosis (Butwicka et al., 2017). This workshop will present information and knowledge sharing that people with substance use disorders must be evaluated for psychiatric disorders and treated, if appropriate, for their co-occurring mental health disorder. Concepts such as social determinants of health, stigma related to the language and terminology used towards those with substance use and mental health disorders, barriers to care, integrated care, and efficacy of traditional and alternative treatments will be discussed. The last half of this presentation will invite audience feedback, comments and experiences with this position that will help to shape the developing position paper for FIAANs and IntNSA.