Mental illness and addiction are prevalent among adults in the United States. An estimated 46.6 million have a mental health issues, and 18.7 million have a substance use disorder. It is estimated that 8.5 million people or 3.4% of adults in the United States are struggling with co-occurring disorders.
Co-occurring disorders are of particular concern among working aged adults.
Among adults between ages 18-25 with mental illness, 26.8% have substance use disorders. This represents the largest percentage of substance use disorders among those with mental illness than any other age range. For adults between 26-49 years of age, 4.4 million have a mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorder.
It is important for employers to understand the impact of co-occurring disorders on their employees. Medical costs are greatly increased when employees have substance use disorders, and depression is a leading cause of workplace absenteeism.
- Substance use and misuse costs Americans over $700 billion per year in increased health care costs, crime, and lost productivity.
- Depression costs an estimated $51 billion in lost productivity due to absenteeism.
- Among people with mental health disorders, 68% also have a chronic medical condition, and 29% of people with medical conditions also have a co-morbid mental illness.
- Hypertension, asthma, arthritis, and smoking are seen in greater proportions among people with co-occurring disorders.
When treatment is not available, we miss important opportunities to increase the workforce, and improve the labor market.
- In Tennessee, 30.1% of adults between ages 18-20 accessing publicly-funded mental health services were not in the labor force, and 43.8% were unemployed.
- Among adults between 21-64 accessing publicly-funded mental health services, 48.4% were not in the labor force, and 29.4% were unemployed.
- At least 50% of people who are homeless have co-occurring disorders. Left untreated, they have little chance at obtaining jobs and permanent housing.
Treatment for co-occurring disorders should be integrated. Integrated care includes a recovery-oriented system of care approach in which treatment for mental illness, addiction, and medical conditions are provided from a coordinated, single delivery system.
- In 2017, over one-half of Tennesseans with a mental illness did not accessed mental health services.
- For people who accessed services, 29% were diagnosed with a co-existing substance use disorder.
WAYS YOU CAN INITIATE CHANGE TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS.
Treatment works and recovery is real!
Support Enhanced Treatment
Be an advocate by encouraging your public policy-makers to support a “no wrong door” community-based integrated treatment approach where the presence of co-occurring disorders is considered an expectation rather than an exception. Regardless of where an individual goes for treatment, they will be able to get the help they need.
Effective Behavioral Healthcare Treatment Options
Be an advocate by encouraging your public policy-makers to pass laws which focus on a variety of treatment options including, but not limited to, inpatient and outpatient care, supportive housing, and peer-to-peer support as these treatment techniques provide the best possible opportunity for recovery.
Initiate conversations and efforts that provide your local community the resources to manage these diseases and the support to maintain life-long recovery.
Advocate for Awareness and Education on the Impact of Co-Occurring Disorders
Be an advocate for local community partnerships with the community-based behavioral health agencies and advocacy organizations in educating and bringing about awareness of co-occurring disorders and their impact on local communities.
Be an advocate for enhanced training and education for judicial and criminal justice personnel and developing an awareness of the needs of individuals experiencing co-occurring disorders.
Be an advocate for incentives for employers to offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and access to effective treatment programs for employees and their families experiencing co-occurring disorders.
