Interrelationship of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Problems

Abstract

There is now considerable evidence documenting high rates of substance use disorders and other forms of mental illness around the world. Such research illustrates the enormous toll that both sets of disorders take on individuals and society, and shows how both types of disorders contribute substantially to poor functioning and compromised well-being. We are now starting to understand much about substance use disorders and other forms of mental illness. We have good evidence regarding the nature and course of many types of mental and substance use disorders, and for many we have studied a range of psychosocial and pharmacological treatments with efficacy ranging from promising to clearly beneficial.