FACING DUAL CHALLENGE
This chapter highlights the key clinical aspects of schizophrenia and substance use disorders, with a focus on their co-occurrence and the challenges they present, and the importance of integrated therapies that address both illnesses.
Fast Facts
Early onset: People with schizophrenia and a history of substance use are in the attention of psychiatric services earlier than those without such a history.
Dual challenge: When schizophrenia and substance use disorder coexist, they create a more challenging clinical picture and lead to poorer outcomes than either condition alone.
Many people with schizophrenia underreport their substance use, often out of fear of judgment or blame. Recognizing substance use disorder as a mental health condition, not a choice, is key to providing better support and care.
Integrated treatment: Effective care for dual schizophrenia must address both schizophrenia symptoms and symptoms related to substance use disorder to improve recovery and long-term outcomes.
When schizophrenia and substance use disorders go hand in hand, they create a more challenging clinical picture and lead to less favorable outcomes compared to when each condition occurs alone.
People with schizophrenia who also use drugs or alcohol often experience a unique form of mental illness. These individuals, commonly referred to as having “dual disorder”, generally face more severe symptoms and challenges than those who don’t use substances.
Importantly, this isn’t a rare condition. If including issues like smoking and other substance use problems, most people with schizophrenia are dealing with a dual disorder.
