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. Families are particularly vulnerable to the risk factors related to co-occurring disorders. Issues such as suicide, family separation, and neonatal abstinence syndrome complicate the negative effects of substance use disorders and mental illness.

• People with COD are particularly vulnerable to the effects of adverse childhood experiences and have a higher prevalence of childhood trauma than those without co-occurring disorders. There is a strong association between adverse childhood experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol dependence, injection drug use, tobacco use, sex work, and chronic medical problems for people with co-occurring disorders.
• Risk of substance use disorders and mental illness are increased when children are exposed to trauma. There is a direct association between the number of adverse experiences and increased risk of the development of disorders in adulthood.
• Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the nation. In Tennessee, suicide is the 9th leading cause of death. Suicide rates among youth and young adults is particularly alarming. In Tennessee, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among 10-14-year-old and 25-34-year-old individuals. It is the 3rd leading cause of death among individuals between ages 15-24, and the 4th leading cause of death among those between 35-44 and 45-54.
• The rate of children entering state custody due to parental substance use rose 5% in 2017 across the U.S.
• In Tennessee the number of children entering custody due to parental substance use disorders increased by 12%, with 2,040 children entering custody specifically due to this issue.
• Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a condition in which an infant has withdrawal symptoms after being exposed to certain substances during pregnancy.
• Over the past decade, there has been a nearly ten-fold rise in the incidence of babies born with NAS in Tennessee. Infants with NAS stay in the hospital longer than other babies and they may have serious medical and social problems. Unidentified and untreated disorders can affect children’s critical developmental years.
• 85.2% of children and youth are reported to have had biological family members with some type of mental illness, including drug and alcohol problems.
• Approximately 69.9% of caregivers reported that their child had a biological family member who had been diagnosed with depression or shown signs of depression and
• 47.1% reported that their child had a biological family member with another type of mental illness. In addition, 60.8% of children and youth were reported to have a biological family member who had a drinking problem.
• Over 58% of families with a relative experiencing substance use disorders waited almost 3 years before accessing support services. Accessing family-driven and focused services is an important step in the recovery process.

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.