Co-Occurring Disorders integrates mental health and substance use care so patients aren’t bounced between silos. This page translates principles into routines: single assessment for both domains, shared formulations, and unified plans that address mood, anxiety, psychosis, PTSD, ADHD, and personality traits alongside substance patterns. If you’re comparing a dual diagnosis conference, you’ll find stepped-care pathways across severity levels and settings, with attention to withdrawal, suicidality, and overdose risk. Because engagement is fragile, we emphasize motivational strategies, low-threshold entry points, and practical supports (transport, childcare, tele-options) that keep people connected. For youth-specific pathways, see Adolescent Dual Diagnosis.

Outcomes improve when teams measure what matters and iterate quickly. Use registries that track cravings, mood/sleep, function, and quality of life; schedule earlier follow-ups during initiation and after transitions. Sequence care thoughtfully—stabilize withdrawal and sleep first, then introduce exposure or trauma work when safe. Choose medications with interaction and misuse risk in mind; employ long-acting options where adherence is a challenge. Group formats and peers normalize setbacks and provide hope; harm reduction keeps people alive long enough to benefit from care. Equity and language access are built in, not bolted on.