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Chapter 6

Co-Occurring Mental Health Issues

Ali Alkoraishi, M.D.

Introduction

A person who has both substance abuse and psychiatric problems is
said to have a dual diagnosis, sometimes also called, co-occurring
disorders. To recover fully, the person needs treatment for both
problems.

Prevalence of The Problem

There is a lack of information on the exact numbers of people with a
dual diagnosis, but research has shown that it is not that uncommon.
According to reports published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA):

• Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29% currently abuse
either alcohol or drugs and 60% will abuse either alcohol or
other drugs some time during their lifetime.