Co-Occurring Disorders

The term "co-occurring disorders" is used to describe a person or service recipient as having at least one mental health disorder along with a substance use disorder that is co-occurring at the same time.  

The term co-occurring is often used interchangeably with other terms including dual diagnosis, co-morbidity, concurrent disorders, and double trouble.  Co-occurring disorders has become the prevalent term and is the "term of choice" for The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

People or service recipients with a combined mental disorder (such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and psychotic disorder) and substance use disorder (alcohol and/or drugs) are a fast-growing segment of the population. Co-occurring disorders are the expectation rather than the exception.

Increasingly, the nation and the State of Tennessee are recognizing that existing systems of care designed to treat people with single diagnoses are less effective for people with co-occurring disorders. Proper diagnosis and treatment are critical to a person’s recovery.  Treating co-occurring disorders with a no-wrong-door approach and integratively as a best practice will cut down on relapse and enhance recovery.  So, in an effort to address this issue, TDMHSAS contractually requires all of its community treatment poviders to be co-occurring disorders capable (CODC) meaning they have the capability of treating both substance use and mental health issues at the same time.

COD Mission Statement:
TDMHSAS is strongly committed to: educating professionals about co-occurring disorders and the need for integrated services; informing the public about co-occurring disorders and how to access services; and developing more integrated treatment and recovery services for those diagnosed with co-occurring disorder and their families.

Provider Expectations
It is the expectation of the Division of Substance Abuse Services that its contracted treatment providers are at least “Co-occurring Disorders Capable (CODC)” (having the capability of treating and providing quality co-occuring disorders services) and to submit annually to DSAS a formal self-assessment, that is recogniized by DSAS, of their program/s and agency’s capability of providing co-occurring services level of care. This evidenced-based self-assessment instrument is to be email upon completion to: Ken H. Ken.Horvath@tn.gov by year’s end after receiving an announcement of such.

Please utilize the following resource as a method of preparation for the self-assessment exercise and as a resource for COD service that is provided by TN Co-occurring Disorders Collaborative (TNCODC) at www.tncodc.com 615-244-2220.