What is a co-occurring disorder?
People with co-occurring disorders, also referred to as dual diagnosis, have both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. These people require an integrated treatment plan that targets both illnesses at once. Mental illness can be classified as anything from minor cases of depression to severe impairments such as schizophrenia and PTSD. Of the 23 million Americans struggling with addiction, nearly 14 million also suffer from some form of mental illness, either stemming from or leading to substance abuse.