Substance Use

Co-Occurring Disorder Services by NLCMHA

Co-occurring Disorders (COD) refers to the presence of both mental illness and substance dependency or abuse at the same time.

An individual may have a mental illness first, then turn to alcohol or other drugs due to sadness, anxiety or fear of other people. On the other hand, an individual may have a substance use problem first which may cause the brain and other organs to be affected, over time causing the development of a mental illness.

Both issues do not have to be currently active for us to provide assistance. Problems may be recognized as co-occurring even if one has been active only in the past.

NLCMHA provides Co-Occurring Disorder (COD) services for adults who are eligible to receive Community Mental Health (CMH) services and who also have a substance dependency/use concern.

Co-Occurring Disorders brochure

Substance Use Disorder Services by NMRE

For persons with Substance Use Disorders, such as opioid addiction, contact the Northern Michigan Regional Entity at 1-800-834-3393 to access services.

Helping Yourself

The most important way to help yourself is to acknowledge your problems and seek professional help. It is also important to remember that recovery takes time, but once you get help you can expect to enjoy life more and feel better about yourself.

Helping Someone Else

Encourage the individual to acknowledge their problems and seek help. Learn all you can about the person’s condition. Support groups, education, and counseling sessions are available for the person’s family. Do not make excuses for the individual; instead, offer support, be patient and understanding. Keep in mind that you are not responsible for the individual’s condition.