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. There are approximately 11,000 inmates with co-occurring disorder in Tennessee’s prisons and local jails. The criminal justice system has become the de facto treatment facility for many people with mental illness and substance use disorders.
- Police estimate that 7 to 10% of their encounters are with individuals who have mental illness.
- U.S. jails and prisons have more people with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders than many inpatient psychiatric facilities
- In the local jail systems, nearly 25% of all inmates have mental health issues, and 76% of inmates with mental health issues reported substance use.
- About 75% of females and 63% of males in local jails have mental health issues.
- Incarcerated individuals with mental illness are more likely to have experienced homelessness, prior incarceration, and substance abuse than those without mental health conditions.
- Individual with co-occurring disorders are more likely to recidivate, usually for violation of probation rather than new crimes, often a result of symptoms and effects of mental illness and substance use disorders.
- Incarcerated individuals with co-occurring disorders tend to stay in jail longer, and are less likely to be probation or parole.
- Among veterans who are involved with the criminal justice system, over half have mental illness or substance use disorders.
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.
Support and encourage the expansion of capacity for an integrated system of care to treat both mental health and addictions issues.
Initiate conversations that encourage routine co-occurring disorder screening and referral for the treatment needs of individuals entering the criminal justice system and the development of adequate treatment resources that have been shown to be effective.
Advocate for Awareness and Education on the Impact of Co-Occurring Disorders
Partner with local behavioral health agencies and advocacy organizations for the provision of co-occurring disorder training, education, and awareness for all judicial and criminal justice personnel.
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 incentives for employers to offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and access to effective treatment programs for employees and their families experiencing co-occurring disorders.
