Data

Promoting Integration through Shared Data

Effective treatment for individuals with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders requires sharing information across systems and across agencies. Data sharing supports integrated services by facilitating communication and collaboration among organizations needed for:

• Integrated screening and assessment
• Holistic treatment planning
• Coordinated service delivery and continuity of care

Individuals with co-occurring disorders may be asked to give permission so that agencies can share:

• Treatment plans and goals
• Service referrals
• Insurance and benefit status
• Information about medication
• Follow-up services

Data sharing also supports planning, evaluation and quality assurance activities by providing information and analysis on the following:

• The prevalence of co-occurring disorders
• Service utilization across systems
• Program performance and costs
• Individual outcomes and costs

Such data is essential for effective policymaking. It may support the identification of effective treatments and best practices. It also provides key data on the nature and extent of co-occurring disorders and helps public officials identify:

• Unmet treatment and prevention needs
• Set priorities
• Anticipate workforce demands
• Determine appropriate resource allocations

Overcoming silos

Data related to mental and substance use disorders are often collected and owned by separate systems of care. Silos of information inhibits effective and efficient coordination of services, continuity of care, and assessment of treatment outcomes and costs, resulting in suboptimal care.

States integrating substance abuse and mental health services have undertaken a variety of activities to promote shared data capacity, including:

• Linking data from different systems
• Adopting data standards
• Enhancing data captured by management information systems

There are a variety of federal initiatives relating to data sharing, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. Initiatives to share data must take into account confidentiality requirements regarding behavioral health information.

While increasing data sharing capacity is not enough to integrate care, it does create important infrastructure to promote integration treatment for individuals with co-occurring disorders.

Resources and Links

• COCE Overview Paper 8 — Epidemiology of Co-Occurring Disorders

  Overview of the epidemiology of COD for the layperson and practicing professional

• Transforming Mental Health and Substance Abuse Data Systems in the United States

  Data sharing across agencies and systems is important to improve client care and coordination. This article describes current federal and state initiatives to improve data interoperability, or the ability of different systems to work together. It includes challenges and recommended steps to reforming data systems.

• Co-occurring Mental Problems and Substance Use

  Portal for statistical information to support decision-making regarding prevention and treatment of COD

• The National Survey on Drug Use and Health Report — Male Veterans with Co-Occurring Serious Mental Illness and a Substance Use Disorder

  Easily understood figures on prevalence of COD among veterans

• Addiction Treatment Services and Co-occurring Disorders: Prevalence Estimates, Treatment Practices, and Barriers

  Study of outcomes between integrated and non-integrated treatment services highlighting common barriers to collaboration

• Prevalence and Characteristics of Clients with Co-Occurring Disorders in Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment

  Data illustrating number of mental health issues among persons presenting for substance abuse treatment

• The Co-occurring Matrix for Mental and Addictions Disorders

  A discussion of the four-quadrant matrix for understanding severity of individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders

• Management of Patients with Severe Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorders

  A brief summary of the current status of research studies on a range of interventions

• Co-Occurring Disorder-Related Quick Facts: ALCOHOL

  Statistics and related quick data on alcohol use

• Co-occurring Disorders: Overview

  Easily understood statistics related to co-occurring disorders

• Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices: Learning from Clinical Trials

  A summary of clinical trials aimed at improving the use of evidence-based practices to improve drug abuse treatment

• Co-occurring Disorder-Related Quick Facts: Nicotine

  A brief summary of nicotine in the context of mental illness, substance use, and treatment approaches

• Co-occurring Disorder-Related Quick Facts: Gambling

  A brief overview of gambling and its relationship to mental health and substance use

• Co-occurring Disorders-Related Facts: Elderly

  A brief summary of mental illness, substance use, and homelessness among the elderly