Do many justice-involved youth with mental health disorders also have substance use disorders?
Yes, although the research base on this is still developing. The NCMHJJ study (2006) found that among youth with at least one mental health diagnosis, approximately 60 percent also met criteria for a substance use disorder. Co-occurring substance use disorders were most common for youth with a diagnosis of disruptive disorder, although significant proportions of youth with anxiety disorders (52.3%) and mood disorders (61.3%) also had a co-occurring substance use disorder.
