Co-occurring mental illness and substance use or addiction

This unit provides an overview of the key considerations for alcohol and other drug (AOD) workers, policy makers, researchers and other health and welfare professionals advocating for, supporting and engaging with individuals living with co-occurring disorders. You will be presented with the latest research findings on effective identification, management and support of people living with co-occurring disorders. Emphasis will be placed on the mental health disorders that most commonly coexist with substance use or addictive behaviour disorders.

In this unit you will learn about the prevalence of common co-occurring disorders, theoretical models that explain your aetiology and inform treatment, and the unique challenges associated with different presentations. The unit also examines the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions and evidence for medical management, including pharmacological approaches.

An applied approach is embedded throughout the unit, with practice relevant content including a review of the principles of case-formulation for the development of management plans.