Overview

In Australia, it’s estimated that 47–100% of people accessing alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment are also living with a mental health condition.

Meanwhile, 7–53% of people receiving mental health treatment experience problematic substance use.

When someone seeks support for either a mental health concern or substance use, it's important to consider whether another condition may also be present. Screening and assessment can help identify co-occurring conditions early, so people can access the right support sooner.

Effective screening is the first step in uncovering concerns that might otherwise be missed. This supports more timely, coordinated and integrated care, leading to better outcomes for people with co-occurring conditions.

This research brief provides an overview of screening tools for individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use or addiction concerns. Pages 1-3 explain why screening and assessment are important, define key terms and highlight important considerations for the use of screening tools in this population. Pages 4-7 include information on specific tools that can be used to screen for AOD and mental health disorders.