This commentary in the New York Times makes a compelling case for treating drug addiction and mental health conditions as co-occuring disorders. While science has made it clear that addiction is a legitimate medical condition that is often triggered or exacerbated by mental illness or social forces such as poverty, the systems by which we treat this disorder have yet to shift accordingly. Today, too many systems treat people who suffer from both mental health and substance use disorders as the exception, whereas it is in fact the rule, making up more than half of all people who seek treatment for one disorder or the other. Addiction professionals suggest restructuring the treatment system with these people in mind, yet practical hurdles have made this difficult to put into practice. Clinicians accustomed to treating one are not necessarily compatible with the order, for example. Now, efforts are underway to fix addiction care in it entirely—from how agencies are structured to how clinicians treat patients, to what kids are taught in school. Many families, once silent due to shame and stigma, are also speaking out about the need for integrated care, and perhaps merging state agencies in New York that deal with mental health and substance use.
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Rosenthal Center for AddictIon Studies