Understanding Comorbid Substance Use Disorders and Serious Mental Illness
Resource Availability
This course material was originally created by SMI Adviser, now rebranded as SMI CalAdviser. The content in this course material is still current and relevant, yet, please be aware that some external resources and links may no longer be active or available. 
Overview

Description 

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a prevalent problem among individuals in the U.S. Approximately 10 percent of the U.S. population is in recovery from a SUD, even among those receiving treatment, quality of life scores are low and relapse rates are high. Over 25 percent of adults reported engaging in binge drinking in the past month. Those with a severe mental illness are at increased risk for a co-occurring substance use disorder and binge drinking as well as significant negative consequences of this dual-diagnosis. Treatment of these individuals can be challenging. Therefore, the purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders and risky alcohol use and review motivational interviewing techniques, which are particularly efficacious at improving change rate and sustaining change. Medication management and other treatment strategies for providers from primary care and psychiatric specialties will be discussed. 

Learning Objectives 

Cite the prevalence of co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorders and heavy drinking. 

Identify substance use disorders and high-risk alcohol consumption in those with serious mental illness. 

Evaluate treatment options for effectively managing dual-diagnosis serious mental illness and substance use disorders.  

Outline 

  • Substance Use Disorders 
  • Comorbidity with Serious Mental Illness 
  • Diagnostic Criteria 
  • Screening Tools 
  • Treatment Approaches 

Target Audience 

Psychiatrist, Physician (Non-psychiatrist), Physician Assistant, Psychologist, Counselor, Social Worker, Peer Specialist/Peer Support 

Instructional Level 

Advanced; Expert 

Estimated Time to Complete 

Estimated Duration: 1.0 hours  
Program Start Date: July 30, 2025 
Program End Date: July 30, 2028 

Ongoing Interdisciplinary Discussion Board 

After completing the course, engage with colleagues in the mental health field through the webinar Roundtable Topics discussion board. This is an easy way to network and share ideas with other clinicians who participate in this webinar. Access through the discussion tab.  

How to Earn Credit 

After completing the evaluation, participants will have the opportunity to claim their hours of participation and download the appropriate certificate. Physicians may obtain an official CME certificate, other healthcare professionals may receive a CE certificate (as applicable), and all other attendees may generate a certificate of participation. Each certificate will reflect the event date and total hours earned. 

Continuing Education Credit 

In support of improving patient care, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.  

Physicians   

The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Faculty and Planner Disclosures 

The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity - including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others - are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.  

Faculty 

  • Donna Rolin, PhD, APRN, University of Texas at Austin. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests. 
  • Amanda Simonton, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC, CARMAhealth. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests. 

Program Planners 

  • Teri Brister, PhD, LPC, National Alliance on Mental Illness. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests. 
  • Amy N. Cohen, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests. 
  • Tristan Gorrindo, MD, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests. 

Reviewers 

  • Teri Brister, PhD, LPC, National Alliance on Mental Illness. Dr. Brister has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. (Reviewed on 5/4/22) 
  • John Torous, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Torous has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. (Reviewed on 5/2/22) 

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities 

The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance. 

Technical Requirements 

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following: 

The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari 

Internet Explorer 11+ 

This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player. 

Optimal System Configuration: 

Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version) 

Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version) 

Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher 

Minimum Requirements: 

Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content 

Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content 

For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity |  

Contact support@smicaladviser.org for technical assistance 

 

Summary
Availability:
On-Demand
Expires on Jul 30, 2028
Credit Offered:
1 CME Credit
1 COP Credit
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