Overview
Approximately 10 million people nationwide - including 53 percent of drug abusers and 36 percent of alcohol abusers - are said to suffer from combinations of mental health and substance abuse disorders.

Individuals with co-occurring disorders are often difficult to treat due to the complexity of their issues and the vastly different cultures, treatment methods and philosophies, administrative structures, and funding mechanisms of the mental health and substance abuse treatment systems. Treatment barriers include:

• Lack of care coordination. No single point of responsibility exists for treatment and care coordination.
• Disparate funding sources. The funding mechanisms for the two systems are often inflexible, difficult to navigate, and involve a myriad of state, federal, and out-of-pocket and private sector payers with variable eligibility requirements and benefit offerings.
• Hard-to-serve clients. Co-occurring disorders are prominent among chronically homeless persons and other groups that are especially hard-to-serve.

Focus of NGA Center Activities:

The NGA Center will:

• analyze and report on the underlying causes of co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders;
• monitor emerging trends affecting state budgets, economic productivity, and quality of life;
• track and share innovative practices states are employing to address the causes and consequences of co-occurring disorders;
• provide state-specific technical assistance to help Governors advance their priorities around co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders.