Significance

• According to the Foundations Recovery Network, nearly 14 million people are affected by both mental health and substance use disorders every year. In addition, 29 percent of people with a diagnosed mental illness use either drugs or alcohol.
  
  

Identification

• There is no single intervention that is used, but getting an accurate diagnosis for both substance and mental health issues is the first step in getting the appropriate treatment. Historically, substance abuse and mental health treatments have only been offered separately, however, as dual diagnosis has become better understood, more treatment facilities are specializing in a dual approach.
  
  

Types

• The most common mental health conditions that occur along with substance abuse include depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and personality disorders. Although it is important to treat both problems, it is highly advisable that a person who is addicted to any drug or alcohol goes through a supervised detoxification program since the detoxification process can cause serious side effects, including death.