Brussels, 5 December 2023
The Council approved conclusions on people having drug use disorders that co-occur with other mental health disorders. The Council invites member states to consider drug use disorders (DUDs) co-occuring with other mental health disorders as an important challenge for drug and mental health services and policies, a challenge that requires a multidisciplinary and comprehensive response to the needs of people with these disorders.
We know that there is a direct relationship between drug use and mental health, we also know that the presence of a mental health disorder can end up leading to the consumption of certain substances, so it is essential, when we talk about dual disorder, that the health response is comprehensive and multidisciplinary
Mónica García Gómez, Spanish Minister for Health
Comprehensive policy approaches
The conclusions propose the adoption of health, mental health and drug policies that develop responses to the needs of people with DUDs and other mental health disorders and pay particular attention to groups in vulnerable situations. In this sense member states, the Commission and other relevant players should aim to develop personalised interventions adjusted to the special needs of individuals and to their specific individual and social factors as well as comorbidity.
Dual disorder
According to the WHO, the United National Office on Drugs and Crime and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, the association between drug use/drug use disorders and other mental health disorders should be assumed as standard rather than deemed an exception.
Dual disorders or psychiatric comorbidities are associated with a wide range of negative consequences such as higher rates of emergency admissions, more psychiatric hospitalisations, higher risk of drug use relapse and increased likelihood of suicide, overdose and premature deaths.
Treatment
The conclusions also highlight the importance of paying particular attention to the availability and accessibility of adequate and effective treatment for people having both DUDs and other mental health disorders. Treatment should happen regardless of the point of entry into the health and care system and be based on effective coordination between the services.
Member states, Commission and other EU agencies and bodies are also encouraged to provide institutional and financial support in order to develop appropriate responses to the needs of people with DUDs and other co-occurring mental health disorders.
Research and reliable data
While dual disorders are prevalent in EU member states, the available data on their prevalence are still limited and heterogeneous. The conclusions call for the development of reliable and comparable indicators across countries. This is seen as essential to adequately monitor the situation and to facilitate the diagnosis of dual diagnosis of dual disorder.
It is for the same reason that research into the different aspects of DUDs and other mental health disorders should be prioritised and supported. This would help identifying equivalent definitions and measurement methods/tools as well as research on best practices allowing professionals to implement them adequately.
Background
According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), up to 80% of patients in certain groups of drug treatment have mental health issues.
Today’s Council conclusions build on and support related objectives and priorities of the EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025 and the EU Drugs Action Plan 2021-2025, aiming to protect and improve the well-being of society and the individual, protect and promote public health, offer a high level of security and well-being for the general public, increase health literacy, and identify the implementation of appropriate models of treatment and care for groups with special needs as a strategic priority area.
A Commission communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health, published on 7 June 2023, recognises that the special care needs of people with comorbidities should be addressed to facilitate access to effective treatments, in particular for people with drug-use disorders.
- Council conclusions on people having drug use disorders that co-occur with other mental health disorders
- Council approves the EU drugs strategy for 2021-2025 (press release, 18 December 2020)
- Communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health (European Commission)
Source – EU Council