What are you and the Administration doing to address co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders?
Charles Curie: Co-occurring disorders are at the very top of our list of priorities for SAMHSA. We recognize today that typically from a third to over half of the individuals seeking treatment in our mental health systems and drug and alcohol systems have a co-occuring issue or diagnosis. We also know that in the criminal justice system, of the 10-15 percent of individuals who are seriously mentally ill, 90 percent of that population has an existing addictive co-occuring disorder. Our capacity to address this is developed throughout our systems, including integrated treatment models to ensure that this population is served effectively and efficiently. If we treat people appropriately in the first place, not only will their quality of life improve (which is most important), but public dollars will be better used. And it is time for SAMHSA to show national leadership on this issue. Question from chat: What are you and the Administration doing about human rights? Charles Curie: Embedded w
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