Prevalence of Co-Occurring Substance Use and other Mental Disorders in the Canadian Population

Abstract

Objective: Population health surveys around the world have studied the epidemiology of comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs) and other mental disorders as part of larger efforts to assess needs and direct integrated planning and delivery of services. This study presents the first national assessment in Canada of the prevalence of co-occurring SUDs and other mental disorders, with attention to differences by substance problem severity, sex, age, and region. Methods: This work is a secondary analysis of data from the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being. The sample was obtained using a multistage stratified cluster design ( n = 36 984, response rate = 77%). Results: The 12-month population prevalence of co-occurring disorders was 1.7%. The 12-month prevalence of other mental disorders was higher among those with illicit drug, relative to alcohol, problems and among those with dependence, compared with those with less severe problems. Sex and age differences mirrored population differences in pure disorders. Salient regional differences included the higher rate of co-occurring disorders in British Columbia and the lower rates in Quebec. Conclusions: Cross-study comparisons are hampered by methodological differences; however, these Canadian rates are at the lower end of the range reported internationally. This might have resulted from the exclusion of several disorders known to be highly comorbid with SUDs. Nonetheless, prevalence is high in certain subgroups, and efforts under way to improve Canada's substance abuse and mental health services should continue to ensure that adequate attention is directed to the needs of people with co-occurring disorders.

Predictors of Alcohol and Drug Dependence

“…Males are more likely than females to have substance dependence, mainly using alcohol and marijuana. 11,14 Previous studies 48,49 also found that co-occurring disorders were more prevalent among young people. It is logical that substance dependence would occur during young adulthood, considering that adolescence is usually the period of initiation to drugs.…”

Le craving comme symptôme central de la toxicomanie : de ses fondements neurobiologiques à sa pertinence clinique

“…La concomitance d'un trouble lié à l'utilisation de substances et d'un autre trouble psychiatrique est très élevée (Rush et al, 2008). Les données portant sur l'efficacité des traitements de la toxicomanie dans les populations psychiatriques demeurent pourtant très limitées.…”

Accessibilité à la psychothérapie subventionnée par l’État : comparaisons entre les perspectives des psychologues et des psychothérapeutes

“…keywords accessibility, psychotherapy, psychologist, psychotherapist, survey, mental health care Selon la Commission de la santé mentale du Canada (2012), approximativement un Canadien sur cinq souffre d'un problème de santé mentale. Le Centre de toxicomanie et de santé mentale indique qu'au moins 20 % des Canadiens souffrant d'une maladie mentale font éga-lement face à un problème d'abus de substances (Rush, et al, 2008). De plus, les adultes affectés par des problèmes de santé mentale sévères voient leur espérance de vie réduite de façon dramatique comparativement à la population générale (Commission de la santé mentale du Canada, 2012 ; Laurence, Kiseley & Pais, 2010).…”