Comorbidity of substance use and mental health disorders in Europe

Comorbidity of substance use and mental health disorders refers to the co-occurrence of a substance use disorder and another mental health disorder in the same individual. In Europe, the presence of psychiatric disorders associated with substance use disorders has become an important issue in drug policy and treatment provision. This is a result of the high prevalence of comorbidity, the complexity of treating it, and its association with poor treatment outcomes for those affected. This analysis explains what comorbidity is, its implications for care, types of service provision available in Europe and considers key issues for the future.